Church groups support Dr Garnett Brown LEADERS OF several church groups have given their full support to the appointment of Rev. Dr. Garnett Brown to the Commission of Enquiry into the West Kingston shootings which claimed the lives of 27 persons last month. In a press release on Thursday expressing concern over "undesirable" social and economic conditions prevailing in the country, the six leaders, Rev. Dr. Patrick Allen, representing the West Indies Union of Seventh Day Adventist; Bishop Herro Blair, Jamaica Association of Evangeli-cals; Rev. Roland McNally, Church of God in Jamaica; Rev Harold Cunning-ham, Jamaica Council of Churches and Rev Frank Otto, Jamaica Pentecostal Union stated: "We also support Rev. Dr. Garnett Brown's inclusion on the Commis-sion as well as his decision to serve or not to serve." They explained that they "believed that as a minister of the gospel, in addition to his integrity, broad experience and outstanding qualifications, he will add dimension to the Commission, which is most important." Prime Minister P.J. Patterson named Rev. Dr. Brown to the Commission of Enquiry to look into the recent violence in West Kingston and other matters relating to crime and violence in Jamaica. However, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has objected to his appointment arguing that he was sympathetic to the governing People's National Party (PNP). They also charged that he has not been sufficiently vocal on matters relating to human rights. In the meantime, the Church leaders also called on "the powers that be" to seriously consider appointing at least two more persons to the Commission who have competence in the area of human rights. This, they said, could "allay the fears, real or imagined, by some persons in the society and eliminate any suggestion of transparency". The leaders, who stated that they were gratified to learn that a date has been set for a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, said they hoped that "this and subsequent meetings will bear much fruit in the interest of our country". Both leaders and their respective teams met for talks at Vale Royal yesterday.
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