JFJ maintains stance against death penalty despite Clarendon massacre

By Racquel Porter   

 

Human rights organisation Jamaicans For Justice says its position on the death penalty has not changed despite Sunday's mass shooting in Cherry Tree Lane, Clarendon which left eight people dead and nine wounded.

 

Jamaicans are expressing strong support for the use of the death penalty in the fight against crime, believing it would be an effective deterrent.

 

JFJ's Executive Director Mickel Jackson, while condemning the attack, says everyone should play their part in bringing the perpetrators of crime to justice. 

 

"You know, when these types of crimes happen, we understand that the citizens, they're going to be clamouring for, you know, harsher measures, harsher penalties. And JFJ supports, you know, the individuals obviously being brought to justice as soon as it's possible. And therefore, we urge any citizen who is aware of any information that can be provided [to do so]." 

 

Ms. Jackson said the authorities should find other ways to fight crime. 

 

"What I would urge the media house not to start a debate for and against the death penalty, but for us to come together at this critical juncture to grieve with the families, not only grieve with them, but to come up with the measures to prevent these types of things from recurring, from happening again in our communities," she reasoned. 

 

"How do we come together to bring the levels of crime down, using intelligence-based but human rights policing? How do we come together to ensure that people are safe in giving evidence, being witnesses, so that when they have information, they feel safe to do it? How do we come together to prevent crime? How do we come together to control crime?," Ms. Jackson suggested as more important questions that needed to be answered in the fight against crime.