'We're depending on you'
Published:Friday | July 30, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
Governor General Sir Patrick Allen echoed the views of many Jamaicans yesterday as he welcomed the head of the first civilian body established locally to investigate fatal shootings by members of the security forces.
"We are depending on you," Sir Patrick told attorney-at-law Terrence Williams, who was sworn in as the head of the Independent Commission of Investigations, which has been set up to probe allegations against members of the security forces.
"You have the backing and support of the people of Jamaica in discharging this responsibility and I charge you, sir, to discharge this responsibility fairly and objectively," added Sir Patrick.
The governor general argued that the Independent Commission of Investigations could help to make Jamaica a great nation, while building trust in the institutions that serve the country.
No illusion
In moving into the new role, Williams was under no illusion of the challenges he faces at a time when almost every fatal shooting by members of the security forces is greeted with allegations of cold-blooded murder by a suspicious public.
"The task that confronts us is not an easy one, but the nation cannot continue in perpetual mistrust," Williams said.
He declared his commitment to ensuring that the police and soldiers are held accountable for their actions.
"The right to life contemplates, among other things, that the State will effectively and impartially investigate the taking of a life, all human life," Williams said during the brief ceremony at King's House.
"The discharge of this duty by the very agencies whose members have taken life can cause public consternation and the possibility of conflicts of interest. The mission of this commission is to search for the truth whenever it is alleged that agents of the State have abused their awesome powers," added Williams.
He said among his first actions will be the employment of a chief investigator who will then hire a team of investigators to probe allegations submitted to his office.
Civilians welcome
However, these investigators will not necessarily have a security background.
"There is no necessity that the investigators must be ex-policemen or ex-soldiers. I think we can train civilians to do the investigations," Williams told The Gleaner.
He said even before the investigators are hired, he will begin working by supervising probes now being conducted by the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI).
"Even without a staff, one can still supervise investigations being done by the police ... and as our resources grow, we will see what we can take on," added Williams.
The Independent Commission of Investigations replaces the Police Public Complaints Authority which probed allegations of abuse by members of the force.
However, it is not yet clear how it will interact with the BSI, which probes fatal shootings by the police.
According to Williams: "We will shortly have some talks with the BSI to see how it will relate to our agency, but what is clear is that our agency has the power to take over and direct their investigations."
Under the law, the commission is entitled to take charge of and preserve the scene of any incident.
Williams served for 10 years in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) before moving to the British Virgin Islands where he served another 10 years as the DPP.