THE EDITOR, Sir:
REFLECTING ON the recent tear-gassing incident of KSAC Mayor, Desmond McKenzie, it is clear to all that the police perhaps overreacted to the 'threat' posed by the persons marching towards Jamaica House.
However, it should be noted that the police were acting in strict accordance with the letter of the law in that persons, as I understand it, must seek permission from the police prior to organising any march on public streets.
This group obviously had not done any such thing and was therefore technically in breach of the law.
Coupled with this, the marchers were reportedly warned by the police when in the vicinity of Devon House not to proceed up Hope Road. They disobeyed, possibly feeling that they were above the law. When all of this is considered, the police were well within their rights to get a disobedient and technically unlawful Mayor McKenzie to abide by their instructions.
The irony of this case is that, as mayor, Mr. McKenzie has made no bones about the fact that he will hold all persons within Kingston and St. Andrew to the letter of the law, as discretion appears not to be a word he expects to be associated with his reign. Did he use discretion when towing away a police vehicle parked outside the New Kingston police post? I think not, as when he has the power he is not afraid to show who is boss!
The fact is that the mayor and his band of merry marchers were in breach of the law. For whatever reason, the police on the day chose not to show them any discretion and they were apparently instructed to abort the march. They chose not to and, in light of the circumstances, the police were forced to act. They should therefore be supported and commended for not being intimidated by who was breaking the law on the day in question. I will not debate that the police's actions put others at risk; I will however disagree with those who criticise them as it is the high and mighty mayor who, by his actions, endangered the lives of the persons in that vicinity (whom he reminds us he is elected to serve) by his unlawful ways.
I am, etc.,
MIKE GONZALES
Norbrook Crescent
Kingston 8
