The Editor, Sir:

It has long been accepted - despite statements to the contrary by officialdom - that there are two Jamaicans as far as interaction with agents of the state is concerned. The police practise this form of social discrimination without batting an eye and now probably see their actions as the norm.

Over the years, many instances of this discrimination have been publicised - and yet it continues unabated.

I wish to highlight two recent cases - and I apologise to the bereaved families for using their loss in this manner - to show that this is now institutionalised in the Force. Two years or so ago, a couple from an affluent neighbourhood in Mandeville were reported missing; immediately the report was made, who was assigned to investigate? None other than an assistant commissioner of police in the person of one of the Britons now in those positions. The case received extensive coverage on both written and electronic media.

On the flip side

At the same time there was a report that an employee of one of the hotels in New Kingston was deemed missing - not having been seen or heard from for a number of days - and there was nary a 'peep' out of the police concerning this case.

The current case of Ananda Dean highlights the other side of the coin; she and her parents are from a so-called poor neighbourhood - and what is the rank of the officer leading the investigations? An asst. superintendent. And it was only through the productiveness of the parents and neighbours that caused the early intervention of the police.

Clear message

I want all criminal cases to be properly investigated irrespective of the rank of the officer, but this overt assignment of senior officers to cases based on the social/economic status of the victim sends a clear message that the more senior the investigator, the more important that the case be solved as a higher level of expertise is assigned.

Jamaica's motto of "Out of Many, One People" seems to imply that the oneness should be based on racial/ethnic grounds, but we should accept that also crosses social lines and the police should act accordingly.

I am, etc.,

HENRY E. THOMAS

het256@yahoo.com