By Erica James-King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
APOLOGIES, EXPRESSIONS of remorse and pleas for forgiveness flowed from the lips of Commissioner of Police Francis Forbes and National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips yesterday, during a visit to the troubled Flankers community.
"I am sorry," said the Commissioner as he greeted Yvonne Bacchas, daughter of slain taxi operator, David Bacchas, 63, on his first stop during the Flankers tour aimed at consoling the families of victims of Saturday's shooting.
He kept apologising throughout the tour, and again as he addressed a community meeting at the Flankers Primary and Junior High School later that day.
"I am sorry for the pain, grief and the loss that you are feeling. In all my years of law enforcement, few things have touched me so profoundly and I dare say that no other incident will motivate me more to work tirelessly to bring about a police force of which the Jamaican people can be truly proud," said Commissioner Forbes.
NO COVER-UP
Dr. Phillipsin the meantime has vowed that there "will be no cover-up" in the investigations and other matters having to do with the case.
As the group visited Lillian Brown, the widow of Cecil Brown, 66, the National Security Minister disclosed that compensation would be forthcoming for the families of the deceased, and that members of the Victims Support Unit would be in the community today for discussions with the families.
Later when the group gathered at the school, residents openly criticised the police for mishand-ling the demonstrations and for taking too long to apologise. Those at the meeting voiced scepticism that the apologies were sincere. Only some were willing to give the Commissioner the benefit of the doubt.
He used the opportunity to ask for their co-operation.
"I am asking for your forgiveness and for the opportunity to work with you," the top cop challenged the Flankers community. "And I give you my word that not only will we police this community, but we will walk the journey with you from despair to hope and from poverty to enrichment."
Mr. Forbes also officially introduced Superintendent Artice Brown-Getton to the residents and promised that the female officer would keep the community abreast of developments in the case.
Supt. Brown-Getton will be based in Montego Bay and will remain in that city for as long as it takes to wrap up the case. She will be responsible for arranging counselling for family members and those residents of the community who desire this intervention.
The top cop also announced that a team from the Health Ministry is to start counselling sessions immediately with the bereaved families.
He was however insistent that despite their grief, Flankers must seek to maintain the peace and good order.
Giving the assurance that the shooting case involving the three residents of Flankers is receiving priority attention from investigators, the Commissioner said the members of the force would have to start toe the line.
"Over the last few days, this incident and the one in Spanish Town have left me asking some questions. How can we as a Police Force be proud if we are not humble? And how can we be brave if we lack the courage to do what is right?" he asked rhetorically.
Dr. Phillips was in a penitent mood as he toured the community.
"I am sorry as a Jamaican, I am sorry as the Minister responsible, that this event could have occurred," he told residents.
Head of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), Bishop Herro Blair, and Superintendent Newton Amos, police chief for St. James, also accompanied the tour party.
