PM tells security forces to respect human rights while pursuing criminals

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has called for members of the security forces to respect the rights of Jamaicans during their crackdown on criminal networks. 

 

Speaking in St. James on the weekend, Prime Minister Holness commended the Police High Command for the reduction in murders, but cautioned that the lawmen must not engage in extrajudicial killings. 

 

"We are going to push hard but we are very mindful that the brand of Jamaica cannot be associated with extrajudicial or unlawful killings. Our place in the world is as a liberal democracy that respects human rights, and that has been without ambiguity expressed to our security forces. And what I am particularly heartened by is that the leadership of the security forces understand this point. And therefore we are going to pursue the criminals relentlessly, but we are going to respect their human rights. But they should know that they must respect the rights of our policemen to go home back to their families safe and secure," insisted the Prime Minister. 

 

Dr. Holness said the government is reviewing a report from the National Commission on Violence Prevention that covers the issue of violence in Jamaica and the police dealings with citizens.

 

"You may not recall but we empanelled a commission called the National Commission on Violence Prevention, chaired by esteemed Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughan, and she has delivered that report to me. And that report will be used to guide the government as we seek to deal with violence in the home, domestic violence, intimate partner violence and child abuse. Violence by the state, how children are disciplined in schools and state homes, how the police and other security forces deal with our citizens - all of these are areas in which we need to pay attention because if there is violence there is really no peace," he admitted.