Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Despite urging his colleagues to take the fight to criminal, corporal Raymond Wilson, the chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, is far from pleased with the public's treatment of the police.

Speaking recently at a funeral service in Westmoreland for Sergeant Allan Lindsay, who was murdered by armed thugs in broad daylight in Montego Bay, Corporal Wilson bemoaned the fact that there seemed to be greater public sympathy for criminals than the police.

"(At) 3:00 a.m., criminals are shot in a shoot-out with the security forces and placard-bearing protesters are on the street," said Corporal Wilson. "(At) 3:00 p.m., it is sunny and bright, a policeman in uniform in a marked police vehicle is shot and killed, dragged from his car and left in a gutter to die and life continues for the community, even those in close proximity."

In asking where is the public voice when policemen are murdered, Corporal Wilson questioned, "where are your placards stating, 'Him nuh do nuttin ... him is a good man'?"

He went on to ask: "Where are the Jamaicans who believe in justice? Where are our Jamaicans who say they are for justice? Where are Jamaicans for justice?"

Corporal Wilson said that, in light of the scant regard that has been shown for the well-being of policemen, especially by certain radio talk show hosts, he can't help but question whether or not they are on the side of law and order or on the side of the criminals.

"Jamaica, what do you want? Protection from criminals, or protection by criminals?" questioned Corporal Wilson. "If you choose the latter, then you have a false sense of security and, rest assured, one day you will become their victim."

In highlighting the extent to which lawlessness has overtaken Jamaica, the federation chairman said not long ago Jamaica was a bastian for law but, because of the scourge of criminality, today the country is steadily losing its respect.

"Not long ago, Jamaica was considered the pearl of the Caribbean, a nation known for its resilience, a people who fought for strong mind, physical strength and perseverance," said Corporal Wilson. "Today, we are leading with crime. We are a nation in mourning. When is enough, enough?"

He added: "It has become distasteful the way in which some influential persons in this country can lose focus on important issues such as national safety, dispensing with justice, enforcing the laws and preserving the lives of productive citizens in the design of collective approach."

Corporal Wilson continued: "Instead, their focus is on the police so much that some talk show host consider it responsible to question openly the number of police killed, and even suggest that their deaths resulted from acts of corruption rather than a deliberate attack on law on order."

Speaking specifically to the murder of Sergeant Lindsay, Corporal Wilson said murder, which was committed in broad daylight, was symptomatic of the callous nature of the Jamaica we live in today.

"Sergeant Lindsay was in uniform in a marked police vehicle and yet it never stopped his killers from slaughtering him most gruesomely," said Corporal Wilson. "He met his death serving and is a victim of a pandemic he himself pledged and confronted on behalf of the nation."

In an urgent plea, calling on the nation to stand with the police in its quest to arrest lawlessness and return civility to the nation, Corporal Wilson said the way criminals will attack and murder a policeman is the same way they will murder any other citizen.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com