Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

BENT

Three days after a con-troversial fire fight between the security forces and gunmen in Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, the names of the five men who were shot and killed were released by the Constabulary Communication Network on Wednesday night.

The dead men are identified as 23-year-old Fitzroy Daley, 22-year-old Omar Palmer, 20-year-old Ronaldo Mitchell, and 18-year-old Conrad Francis, all of Tivoli Gardens addresses, as well as 23-year-old Kwesi Cunningham of Eltham Park in St. Catherine.

The issue of compensation for damage to public property by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has risen to the fore due to the recent operation in Tivoli Gardens.

In the aftermath of the operation, a number of residents from the area have complained that their property was damaged during the raid.

No formal complaint

Despite their complaints, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jevene Bent told The Gleaner she was not aware of a formal complaint from the residents of the area for compensation.

She, however, said persons who believe their property has been damaged in police operations can forward their complaints to the commissioner's office at 101-103 Old Hope Road in a formal letter.

"Well, they can write to the commissioner and we will investigate if the police are responsible. And if they are, then the Government would have to provide restitution," she stated.

DCP Bent said, when the claim is sent in, a team would investigate to ascertain whether the damage done to the property qualifies for compensation by the government.

She said the law provides for police personnel to forcefully gain entrance to a building, in the case of a raid, when someone is not there to let them in.

While DCP Bent could not give definitive statistics on the number of complaints that the office had received, she said the number was low.

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com