Jamaica and police abuse
published: Wednesday | March 19, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I READ the comments of one Mr. Bidwell, described as a fugitive who declared that the Jamaican justice system was questionable. He said "the country has become a police state where people's rights are no longer respected by those in authority".
I do not know, nor am I attempting to speak to the merit of Mr. Bidwell's case as a fugitive, rather I want to agree with his sentiments concerning the police state and the lack of respect for people's rights by those in authority. I have had the unfortunate experience of being pulled over by the police and when I asked the reason for the stop, I was told to "shut up and lay on the ground". I find that kind of treatment very humiliating.
As if that is not enough, I have had situations on more than one occasion when the cop making the stop is asking that he be given money to avoid issuing a ticket.
We continue to hear of situations where the police who are charged with upholding the law, are wanton lawbreakers. This is especially evident in the number of citizens killed by the police under suspicious circumstances. I think it is not unreasonable for the citizenry to be treated with respect when they encounter the police.
