Excerpts from the report of the Commission of Enquiry into the forced removal of the homeless from the streets of Montego Bay in July 1999
-- Part 3
INSPECTOR AINSWORTH Gidden said he escorted the truck with the homeless on the instructions of Superintendent Baldwin Burey who was then the officer in charge of the Constabulary Force in St. James. We have examined that bit of evidence already and rejected it. However, we must nevertheless examine all the evidence in order to assess whether or not Superintendent Burey was involved.
Superintendent Burey has denied having anything to do with the removal of the street people, and he said he gave no instructions for their removal. He could not recall seeing Inspector Gidden on July 14. On July 15, he went to his office sometime between 7 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. He left at about 7:45 a.m. and went to Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort on special assignment at a Round Table Conference involving the Prime Minister and other dignitaries.
He said that between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., he was in the company of Sergeant Robinson when Senior Superintendent Rose came up and asked him if he had heard the news "that a number of homeless persons were seen wandering on property over in St. Elizabeth". He said that Senior Superintendent Rose also said that the media was making an outcry concerning these persons and that he should look into the matter.
It is convenient at this stage to look at what Sergeant Dilsworth Robinson said he heard. Sergeant Robinson is attached to the Special Branch of the Constabulary Force in St. James. He said that between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., while he was speaking to Superintendent Burey, Senior Superintendent Rose came up and asked Superintendent Burey if he had heard what happened. To quote his words Sergeant Robinson said: "Mr. Burey said he did not, he is not aware of what happened. Mr. Rose told him that the street people who were removed from Montego Bay last night is causing some concern among the residents in St. Elizabeth and - also that the media has been informed and the Commissioner has knowledge".
He continued by saying: "Immediately Mr. Rose said to Mr. Burey that a man in St. Elizabeth found 30 of those street people on his property and he was very upset and concerned about it - he also said that he spoke to the Mayor about what happened and the Mayor was very disappointed as to what had happened".
He also said that he spoke to the Assistant Commissioner of Police and the Assistant Commissioner of Police "laughed until he cried".
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Further on he testified that Senior Superintendent Rose said that the men "must have been told that they should, or should have been told that they should have left five here, five there or five along the way". He testified further that Senior Superintendent Rose also said that the Chamber would be disappointed as to what had happened.
This is how the Sergeant said that Mr. Burey responded: "Well, he asked some questions. What I deduced from it at the time he was not aware of the logistics in regard to this thing because he asked questions which I can't really recall but at the time during his conversation I could deduce that he was not aware of what had really happened".
The evidence of this witness is important to our investigation, and we now quote what he said under cross examination by Mr. Small, Q.C. about this conversation:
Q: Immediately after he had given this information to Mr. Burey about what the men ought to have done, did Mr. Rose say anything further?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: What did he say?
A: He said that he had spoken to the Mayor not very long ago and the Mayor...
Q: Spoke to the Mayor what?
A: ...not very long ago, a short while ago and the Mayor was very disappointed as to what had happened.
Q: Do you remember - could Mr. Rose have said that the Mayor expressed disappointment over the way things were done?
A: Right sir.
Q: That is what he said?
A: Right sir.
Q: You are sure that is what he said?
A: Right sir.
Q: You are sure that is what he said? Did Mr. Rose also use the words, "The Chamber will also be disappointed"?
A: Right sir.
Q: Now, when Mr. Rose said that the Mayor had expressed disappointment over the way things were done, did Mr. Burey respond?
A: No, sir.
Q: When Mr. Rose said that the Chamber will also be disappointed, did Mr. Burey respond?
A: No, sir.
Q: When Mr. Rose reported the part of what you have given in evidence that the Assistant Commissioner of Police had laughed until he almost cried, did Mr. Burey respond?
A: No, sir, Mr. Burey listened most of the time.
Q: And did Mr. Rose himself also start to laugh?
A: Right, sir.
Q: And laughed uncontrollably?
A: Right, sir.
Q: Now, while Mr. Burey was laughing almost uncontrollably, Mr. Rose was laughing almost uncontrollably, did Mr. Burey do anything?
A: No, sir, he was kind of pensive.
Q: And by pensive you mean he look thoughtful, in deep thought?
A: Right, sir.
