JFJ, INDECOM singing from different hymn sheets – for a change

THE EDITOR, Madam:

A couple of years ago, I expressed grave concern about the sight of the commissioner of INDECOM appearing alongside human rights advocacy groups, particularly Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), at a press conference denouncing what they described as an unacceptably high

number of police-involved fatal shootings. At the time, I questioned whether The Independent Commisison of Investigations (INDECOM) was drifting from its statutory mandate into an advocacy role.

Then, as now, I firmly hold the view that INDECOM’s role, as clearly set out in the INDECOM Act, 2010, is to independently and impartially investigate each and every incident involving state agents – whether police, military, or correctional officers – that results in death, injury, or alleged abuse of rights. These agents act on behalf of the State, and it is only fair that their actions are examined dispassionately, free from rhetoric, public pressure, or preconceived notions about whether police-involved shootings are “too high” or “unacceptable” in the abstract.

Against that background, I welcome the recent and noticeable departure by the INDECOM commissioner from the rhetoric commonly employed by the executive director of JFJ. While JFJ continues to characterise police-involved fatal shootings as “untenable” and “deeply troubling,” the commissioner’s more recent public comments have been far more measured and responsible. For a change, we have heard an INDECOM commissioner cautioning against speculation and emotive pronouncements before investigations are completed. For the first time in a long while, JFJ and INDECOM appear to be singing from different hymn sheets – and that is a welcome development.

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