Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter 
Dr. Carolyn Gomes, executive director, Jamaicans for Justice, speaking at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Kingston at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in St. Andrew, on Thursday. -RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ), Dr. Carolyn Gomes, has rejected claims by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kent Pantry about statements she made regarding the Michael Gayle ruling.
Gayle, a mentally-challenged man, was killed on August 23, 1999, by members of the security forces, under questionable circumstances.
The DPP had subsequently ruled that no one should be charged for the death.
In an uncharacteristic move Thursday, Dr. Gomes released depositions from the Coroner's Inquest into the death of Michael Gayle.
Dr. Gomes made the deposition public at the Rotary Club of Kingston luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.
She said while the JFJ was reluctant to release the names of the persons involved in the beatings of Michael Gayle, it was critical to protect the integrity of her organisation.
Mr. Pantry, in an address to the Rotary Club three weeks ago, said an article by Dr. Gomes published in The Gleaner inaccurately stated that more than one member of the security forces who testified at the Coroner's Inquest identified specific soldiers or policemen as having participated in the beating.
NONE IDENTIFIED, SAYS DPP
In his address the DPP had said, if this were so, the Coroner's Jury and the Coroner would have named the persons identified and the JFJ would have told the Human Rights Commission the names of the perpetrators.
But on Thursday, Dr. Gomes read five different statements reportedly from policemen and soldiers who witnessed the beatings of Michael Gayle.
"These accounts identify participants by names, by emblems on their uniforms, by the types of guns they were holding," she said. "Who could be in a better position than the DPP to order the collection of more evidence to strengthen indictments, such as the names and ranks of all the soldiers and policemen who were assigned in the area that night?" she asked.
Dr. Gomes said, however, that there were other important issues arising out of the Michael Gayle case .
They included the lack of accountability at all levels of the security and justice system, the role and function of the system, and the respect for the rights of each Jamaican.
Turning to the Kraal trial, Dr. Gomes questioned the manner in which a vital witness to that case was treated after failing to turn up to testify.
