THE EDITOR, Sir:
I LISTENED with interest to an early morning talk show on April 10, which had for discussion the report by Amnesty International, which speaks to, among other things, killings by Jamaican Police. One of the points put forward in the report as reported by the media is apparently a claim that Jamaica has the highest rate per capita of police killings in the world.
I would hope that Amnesty International has furnished adequate proof of this, because as far as I am aware, this is not true. I say this because it is a fact that many countries do not produce this kind of data because they are either too poor, too corrupt or too authoritarian. The report should therefore point out who are the other countries on the list. Are we #1 out of 200 countries in the world or are we #1 out of 50 countries that do produce the data.
I was very surprised and disappointed that the Police Commissioner, when asked the question if Jamaica did have the highest rate of police killings, responded that he had to take Amnesty's word for it. WELL I DO NOT!! Similarly, an eminent University of the West Indies 'criminologist' who spoke on the same show, seemed to have failed to adequately question this assumption.
Are we worse than China, does China even have reliable data? Are we worse than many of the sub-Saharan African countries? Are we worse than all the countries in South and Central America? Should we compare ourselves with countries where democracy is at least questionable. I DON'T THINK SO!!
If I were the Attorney-General, I would seek compensation from Amnesty International on behalf of Jamaica if the claim is found to be disingenuous, exaggerated or untrue.
I am etc.,
PETER MYERS
cabinetoffice@yahoo.com
Via Go-Jamaica
