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The JLP will ensure that Jamaicans will feel safe and are treated equally under the law, with the respect and dignity they deserve through a programme to Fight Against Injustice for Rights (FAIR).
CURRENT SITUATION
Justice in Jamaica is
at its lowest level
- Over the last decade, there have been many cases of beatings, inhuman treatment, and extra-judicial killings by certain elements in the security forces.
- Agana Barrett died of suffocation after he was stuffed (along with 21 other men) into a prison cell built for five persons.
- Michael Gayle, a mentally-challenged young man, was beaten and kicked to death by soldiers.
- The Braeton Seven, young men who were all police suspects, were executed in a house by a police terror squad.
- Four teenage school boys were lined up against a wall in DenhamTown and were executed by soldiers in 1996.
- Three middle-aged women and one child were killed in a three day reign of terror in Tivoli Gardens by 200 soldiers and police firing 4000 rounds of ammunition in May 1997.
- 25 civilians were killed and 57 wounded in the streets and homes in DenhamTown by soldiers and police snipers over four days in July 2001. Residents were forcibly detained in their houses for 4 days without access to food and shot down if they ventured on the streets.
- In 2000, over forty mentally ill and homeless persons were rounded up on the streets of Montego Bay, tied with rope, and then crammed into a St. James Parish Council truck and transported to St. Elizabeth where they were dumped near the bauxite mud lake in the “Montego Bay Street People” scandal
- The justice system suffers from inadequate judicial services: poor accommodation, equipment, reference books and judicial personnel.
- These problems extensive delays and severe malfunctioning of the entire justice system.
- The threat by the Government to withdraw from use of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final Court of Appeal for Jamaica poses serious concerns for the quality of final judicial review
There has been an unprecedented level of corruption over the past decade . . .
- The Rollins Land Deal Scandal
- The Zinc Scandal
- The Furniture Scandal
- The Shell Waiver Scandal
- Operation Pride Scandal (1)
- Fat Cat Salary Scandal
- The English Sports Scandal
- Netserv Scandal
- Operation Pride (NHDC) Scandal (2)
Failure to Punish
Despite the many instances of injustice and corruption, not one conviction has been secured despite many Commissions of Enquiry and repeated public outcries.
The JLP is committed to a programme of justice for all that will:
- End human rights abuses
- Strengthen the judicial system
- Effectively deal with corruption
Equal Rights and Justice Plan
#1 Ensure that the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms which sets out all the fundamental rights and freedoms which the people have reserved for themselves (and which was originally proposed by the JLP) is enacted and that these rights are enshrined in the Jamaican Constitution.
#2 Redefine the role of the Public Defender (originally proposed by the JLP) to ensure that the original concept of active prosecution of violations and abuse is the focus, in order to safeguard individual rights, particularly those of the poor and abused.
#3 Launch a major courthouse renovation and upgrading plan, as started in the 1980s, to provide better facilities, equipment, and reference books for all courthouses.
#4 Require that the terms of contracts for public works, services, acquisition and divestment of state assets must be verified and certified by the Contractor-General as compliant with policies for awards and within acceptable limits of pricing. Non-compliant agreements will be illegal. This requirement will prevent over-invoicing, over-payment and under-pricing.
#5 Introduce official proceedings to Impeach high public officials, elected and non- elected, for non-performance of duties, abuse of privilege, power of statutory authority, conduct demeaning to office, corruption or mis-appropriation of funds or property.
#6 Adequately staff and equip public institutions which are charged with the detection of corruption. These institutions include the Anti-Corruption Commission and Police Public Complaints Authority.
#7 Continue to utilize the services of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final Court of Appeal.
#8 Introduce character education in our school system to weed corruption out of the Jamaican psyche by teaching values of honesty and integrity from the early years of life.
#9 Establish a special relief fund to compensate victims of state abuse and mistreatment.
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