THE EDITOR, Sir:
MR. KENT Pantry, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), needs to tell the public how his office intends to address the cry heard from one end of Jamaica to the other: "We want justice". Instead, the DPP has recently responded to criticism of his office by attempting to muzzle media and human rights groups, and to cast blame on his staff for prosecution errors.
The public needs to hear how the DPP plans to remedy the crisis in the justice system where citizens increasingly resign themselves to injustice or resort to self-help justice. For too many, due process appears to be an illusion. The DPP can find examples, elsewhere in the Commonwealth, of his counterparts who have brought credibility to creaking justice systems. These persons have taken responsibility for bringing about change. They have, for example, clarified for the public, for their professional teams, for their supporting agencies:
1. The aim of the DPP's office. Citizens have a right to expect this office to contribute to reducing crime and fear of crime, and to increase public confidence in the criminal justice system.
2. The vision of the DPP's office. Victims, suspects, witnesses, and the society as a whole ought to be able to rely on this office to adhere to the highest standards of justice. Citizens have a right to expect that the DPP and his staff will work in partnership with each other and with agencies to get the best results. Accepted norms ought to include service to the people, accountability to the people for decisions taken on their behalf, and commitment to personal and professional integrity and independent decision-making.
3. The objectives of the DPP's office. The DPP and his staff are expected to provide firm, fair, and effective presentations in court. They are also expected to be fair, open, and accountable in decisions to prosecute or not, consistent with the interests of suspects and accused.
4. The main tasks of the DPP's office. The functions of the DPP's office will normally include: Dealing with cases in a timely and efficient manner; bringing to court only those against whom there is an adequate and properly prepared case and who should be prosecuted in the public interest; explaining differences in the handling of individual cases or groups of cases so decisions do not appear arbitrary; building a team of prosecutors with autonomy to make decisions based on established criteria; and engaging in ongoing dialogue with the public so as to build confidence in the service offered by the DPP's office.
Some of Mr Pantry's Commonwealth counterparts use a variety of communication channels, including websites, to inform the public, for example, of the policies and principles governing prosecution of cases. Mr Pantry seems unlikely to silence his critics in a society that still values freedom of expression, until he addresses the substance of the criticisms: shortfall in the delivery of justice.
I am, etc.,
YVONNE MCCALLA SOBERS
nopeacenojustice2003@yahoo.com
Kingston
Via Go-Jamaica
