THE EDITOR, Sir:
FOR THOSE who continue with flagrant disregard to commit acts of murder and mayhem, they must be dealt with swiftly and fairly. This is why we support the police with our taxes, money which is taken from us, many times against our will, this is why we support the police by giving them information and this is why we mourn their death.
It is they on whom we rely to detect and prevent crime. It is they who have powers of arrest, the awesome power to interfere with a citizen's liberty. It is they who are responsible to collect evidence to be presented in a court of law for a case to be prosecuted by the clerk of courts or the crown counsel to be presided over by a magistrate or judge with or without a jury. This is our system of justice.
To cry "what about us the victim" in answer to those who support the observance of human rights and the rule of law is to admit that the justice system is not working. Ordinary law-abiding citizens do not feel that when they are victims they will get redress using the existing judicial system. They are prepared to support actions seemingly outside of the judicial system to get their justice. Surely then they must understand and accept when others go outside of the same system to get their justice. When and how will this end?
The killing of seven young men in Braeton may be viewed as justice, to others it is outrageous injustice. How will we know? Can we at this stage find the truth when evidence is already lost, by contamination or removal? Are we to put our faith in yet another Coroner's Inquest or Commission of Inquiry a la Michael Gayle and the street people.
At this stage of our Independence as a sovereign nation we should long ago have had in place a system of independent investigation in which the citizens of this country have confidence and on which they will rely. We deserve nothing less. It is not too late.
The instances warranting independent investigation are increasing, they will continue to rip this nation apart unless and until we all impartially and fearlessly stand up for justice and insist that our demands are met. In the absence of this we are doomed to keep talking, crying and burying our dead.
I am, etc.,
KATHRYN M. PHIPPS
26 1/2 Duke Street
Kingston
