Arelene Harrison Henry, Public Defender Blasts Security Forces ….

Some 300 Detained Since State of Emergency in St. Catherine North Police Division since Sunday March 15, 2018. Custos.
Rev. McKenzie.

Pubic Defender

“We are grooming criminals when you round up people … detain them, take their particulars … I think you are grooming them to be future criminals.

No Food

The detainees have not been fed. Some get a little water. 300 processed only 30 detained and 3 guns recovered.  It is not a case where they are held for extended periods of time.

Rev. Jeffrey McKenzie

We offer counciling, guidance … we know that within 24 hours they can be detained …if beyond that they must be charged or released.  There has been minor itches, but by and large they (the police etc.) are sticking to the detention guidelines.

We do not want resentment building …

Public Defender

If you take me from my field where I am cultivating my field, despite the state of emergency you still need to have reasonable cause.  Even under the state of emergency the rule of law is still in place.  What is happening as in Mobay, people are routinely taken up.  We need to be more targeted.  There has to be reasons to be a suspect … it cannot be used in a arbitrary way. What I saw in Mobay ..we are criminalizing people.

A group of young men were released. They regrouped and instantly became friends.  If we are not careful we may be cultivating young criminals for the future. Declared a strident Arlene Harrison Henry, Public Defender. Monitored in a radio interview today in Kingston, Ja. W.I.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.