Donald Stewart, Contributor
Stewart
THE PRESENT, passionate debate concerning police indiscretion and brutality (even against their fellow officers) has left many unanswered questions about our law enforcers and their capacity for integrity.
Clear battle lines have obviously been drawn, not only on the roads of some troubled communities, but also in the minds of countless decent, law-abiding Jamaican citizens. There is the strong perception, often with valid support, that 'police officers cannot, and must not, be trusted'.
Many Jamaican citizens who have been the victims of unjust, abusive or disrespectful police treatment have had strong reasons for the development of anger, resentment and bitterness towards anyone who wears a uniform, or anything that represents authority over their lives.
While I believe in the biblical principles concerning respect for, and submission to authority, I also acknowledge the need for those in authority to take stock of their behaviour, since... as the Bible says, "For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." (Hosea. 8: 7). Do the members of the Jamaican police force think that they can continue to treat everyone else like criminals, without expecting major repercussions?
And what of the glaring inconsistencies continually being demonstrated by those officers responsible for apprehending traffic violators?
Sunday, December 4, was another typical case in point, after the closure of the Jamaica Labour Party's annual conference at the National Arena. I again witnessed several buses and cars, all overloaded with zealous, chanting, bell-ringing party supporters, fully decked in their green paraphernalia, committing every conceivable breach of the law as they sped down the Washington Boulevard and on to the Mandela Highway.
Bodies clad in green were precariously protruding from all windows and doors as they recklessly proceeded to break every speed limit, intimidated other road users, littered the streets, overtook each other on the soft shoulders and became a law unto themselves.
Where were the police officers who should have been on spot to apprehend and arrest these law-breakers, you might ask? Not only was there none in sight on this side of the highway (heading towards Central Village) but there were two or three marked police cars on the other side of the road, busily ticketing the drivers who were coming in from the other direction.
TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF LAWS
I observed, with righteous indignation, those incoming drivers being apprehended by the alert police officers, while the others who were committing the more serious offences were allowed to continue racing and ringing their freedom bells unmolested. I could not help but think that this was another clear case of two different sets of laws for two different sets of people. Was it not the proverbial donkey who had once wisely said, 'the world no level'?
It almost seems like the political activists and supporters (from both major political parties) are off limits. The police, it appears, cannot touch them ... as long as they are conspicuously draped in orange or green. Is this just my own simplistic perception, or could it be that the police officers have been put under manners and given strict orders 'not to touch' ... by their superiors and those in high political places?
Let's not forget about what also happens during the funeral processions of the so-called celebrities (area leaders, dons, etc), or during the ungodly carnival road marches, when decent road users have to step aside so that lawlessness can prevail, with the full approval and support of high ranking police personnel.
Some of us may be old enough to remember reading about the mysterious, horrible and infamous 'Jack the Ripper Murders' on the streets of London in the year 1888.
It would appear, from all the supporting evidence, that the police officers were always 'coincidentally' deployed elsewhere by the instructions of their superiors ... so that they were never able to catch the murderer(s) in action. Are there any similarities between 19th century London and 21st century Jamaica? What do you think?
ANARCHISTS FREE
While the hands of the police officers seem to be somewhat shackled, periodically, those of the criminals and anarchists continue to function with utmost freedom and utter disregard for the rights of fellow citizens.
Watch, for example, what happens on Molynes Road, near Half-Way Tree, on any given work day when the Linstead to Half-Way Tree buses are passing through.
The conductors are sent out on to the streets way in advance to control/block the traffic, while the bus drivers overtake on any side of the road they desire, driving at any speed they choose and stopping at any point they decide. And where are the traffic police in all of this? Your guess is as good as mine.
While I am not advocating that all police personnel are of the same mould, it is crystal clear, at least to me, that some dangerous signals have been sent, and are still being sent to the wider society, by many wicked, corrupt, hypocritical elements hiding among our 'law enforcers'.
As long as those in the places of higher authority continue to ignore the desperate cries of 'injustice' and 'corruption', coming from our suffering Jamaican people, then the stage is being set for a state of anarchy, when ... 'every man did that which was right in his own eyes.' (Judges 21:25).
AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY
It is high time for the political leaders of this, our blessed country Jamaica, to understand the awesome responsibility that they have to direct this country in a godly manner, based on the principles of God's Word, the Bible.
Lawlessness, injustice, corruption, idolatry, immorality and other such vices must first be confronted and expelled from the lives of those who lead this nation. It is only then that the law enforcers and other servants of the state can be expected (and held accountable) to function with true professionalism and integrity.
Anything less that this will only continue to feed the existing social disease of distrust, anger, bitterness, resentment and rebelliousness, while fuelling the fires of criminality, wickedness and national destruction.
We certainly cannot afford to take anymore battering as a people. There is desperate, urgent need for deep-rooted changes in the way we live, before God and man, knowing quite well that these will also have serious eternal implications and consequences.
I appeal, therefore, to all the leaders of my country, in all spheres and at all levels, to seriously consider the moral and spiritual state of their lives ... for in "the times of ignorance God winked at, but now commendeth all men every where to repent." (Acts 17: 30).
Donald K. Stewart is pastor of the Portmore Lane Covenant Community Church. He may be contacted at covcomoffice@colis.com.
