Keith Clarke Crying Out From His Grave For Justice

March 1, 2021 Zhane Squire

March 1, 2021 | Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

As accountant Keith Clarke awaits Justice from the grave we wonder how much longer will Dr. Claudette Clarke, an esteemed educator, his widow, family will have to wait for justice for her life long partner, bread winner and father of her children. It was 2010 that members of the security forces trespassed on the private residence of the Clarke’s, and riddled the defenseless family man with a barrage of bullets. Things have never been the same. It must be a constant nightmare for them with the attendant flashbacks. I cannot claim to have any expertise in clinical Psychology, but based on what survivors of such tragedies have related, it must be a rough ride. Of course each person experience and react to grief in different ways as we all have our unique coping mechanisms.

Private Talks

When I last saw Dr. Claudette Clarke, about January of 2021, we spoke briefly about her husband’s untimely death. She updated me on the case. The details of which will remain private. Respect for her privacy dictates my keeping our private discussion confidential. Suffice to say she is hurting.

She was quite reflective, but was her usual dignified self. It is difficult to move on with your life when closure as it relates to your life’s partner is still not settled after 11 eleven years.

2010 Incursion Into Tivoli Gardens

The security forces got some unreliable intelligence that Dudus Coke was hold up in Keith Clarke’s residence. Clarke was his accountant. There is nothing illegal about having an accountant. Alas! This intelligence was as reliable as to say I went to school with Sir. Alexander Bustamante. Could not be more far from the truth. Was it politically contrived for reasons still not clear? We are still baffled at the poor quality of such so called intel.

Violation Of A Man’s Castle

So if you have such an information and you suspect that an alleged fugitive is there then you surround the premises and with aerial resources you extract the suspect. You don’t violate by reckless entry a man’s house which is his castle and start shooting indiscriminately. There has to be a better way. A more clinical way, a more less intrusive way. A more professional way to execute such an operation.

The Peter Bunting Fiasco?

Former National Security Minister Peter Bunting signed years after letters of immunity trying to indemnify the security forces from liability of the murder of Keith Clarke.

What will be the findings and outcome of the decision of the Law Lords is anyone’s guess? We hope sooner than later. Will the Clarke family finally get some long overdue closure? Only time will tell.

To the family we say grief you may endure in the night, but celebration awaits you at the break of dawn.

Privy Council

We have to await the verdict of the Privy Council in England as to the legality of these signed letters of immunity. It all appears contrived and an after thought. Is this a grand scheme and attempt at cover up that is being applied belatedly?

The issue around those so called letters of immunity still haunts many and we are inclined to believe also the Keith Clarke Family.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is a veteran journalist, poet, elegist & satirist who has International exposure.