THE EDITOR, Sir:
WE HAVE a serious problem of no confidence in our justice system. Eyewitnesses are afraid to come forward to ensure that the guilty are rightly punished. One cannot blame them, as our witness protection programme does not provide the level of assurance that the witness or his family will be safe. Either the police or a friend of the accused will ensure that the witness does not get to court. The end result of this is that the guilty will, on most occasions, walk free.
The police are now accused of not doing anything about crime as the criminal elements, knowledgeable of our fears and shortcomings have a field day. They are aided and abetted by people in the society who know the system very well and are able to manoeuvre their way with strong dollars and association. A ghetto youth cannot import guns and ammunition.
What does the policeman do in a situation like this? He becomes judge, jury and executioner, hoping that the innocent will feel good that at least one or two more dangerous gunmen are off the street. But alas, the innocent turns on the police accusing him of being just like the criminal, killing in cold blood. What a cycle! Weak justice system, criminal walks free, police not doing anything about crime, police kills alleged gunman, police accused of being like the criminal.
If we put most of our energy in the first item in this cycle, couldn't we eliminate our biggest problem? Or does it suit some of us to have a weak system so that those of us who know the law can skilfully weave our way around it?
This is the big picture, which no one is willing either to admit or deal with. On the point of guns, how can there be gang war with illegal guns being fired left right and centre. What do we do over the years? Arrange for peace treaty to be signed by both sides. Again we are sidestepping the real issue. The illegal guns are still in the hands of the warring factions ready to start firing again anytime. We need to get rid of the illegal guns. I wonder who is big enough to bell the cat.
I am etc.,
KENNETH GRANT
PO Box 1376
Kingston 8
