Has anybody seen JFJ?
Dear Editor,
We oftentimes hear people expressing their disgust at our justice system and a lack of confidence in the administration of justice.
We have witnessed injustice at the hands of the police and state officials in varying forms. Whenever the police go out of line, the vociferous group called Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) leaves no stone unturned until the entire nation is aware.
I, however, cannot help but notice the deafening silence coming from the human rights group over some incidents of blatant injustice in recent times.
How can any human rights group in the world remain silent when a judge slaps a man on his wrist after he was found guilty of raping a 12-year-old girl, then burying her alive? Who is defending the rights of this child?
The recent actions of some of our judges in handing down light sentences to criminals for heinous crimes smack the very fabric of justice in the face. These incidents have escaped the microscopic eyes of the usually keen watching JFJ. We remember the case of the former Klansman boss Tesha Miller, who was arrested, granted bail, arrested again, granted bail again, arrested again and granted bail again.
As a Jamaican, I believe something has gone terribly wrong with our justice system. If the “good” people remain silent and only speak on issues of gay rights and police brutality, our system will not be improved.
Who will speak for the family of this 12-year-old girl? Who will speak for the family of Kajheel Mais? Who will question the action of the judge who granted bail to the driver of a car that transported men to the home of the doctor in Mandeville who shot him several times?
These are all Jamaicans, hence my plea to Jamaicans For Justice is justice for all and not only for those whom they choose.
Andrei Morrison
Kingston 5