PM speaks on West Kgn events

The following is the text of an address broadcast to the nation last night by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson on the events in West Kingston the weekend of July 7.

My fellow Jamaicans,

I speak to you this evening about the grave series of events, which unfolded a few days ago and threatened to paralyse our nation and posed a serious danger to every worthwhile pillar of our progress.

On behalf of the Government, let me express my profound sorrow at the loss of lives and my sincere sympathy to all those who have been deprived of loved ones.

While we are yet to determine the exact circumstances surrounding each of those who died, I recognise that each family affected will suffer a deep sense of bereavement.

Our entire nation is grieving. We simply cannot afford any recurrence of the tragic events of recent days.

VIOLENCE

Unfortunately, violence has, for a long time, been an undesirable feature of life in our country.

We know that, in the past, some of this violence had a political dimension. My administration and I, with the active support of other political and civil elements, have been working steadily to ensure its eradication.

In fact, this type of violence had declined to a point, where during the last few years, not a single murder was categorised as having a political motive.

People from rival communities have been able to inter-mingle, to engage in normal social intercourse and even in sporting activities.

In spite of all this, we have always realised that the balance remained extremely delicate.

Since May of this year, violence has flared between criminal gangs, which, although existing in communities of differing political stripes, was essentially fuelled by criminal activity, pure and simple.

The actual facts and available intelligence point to this clear assertion. Ascribing the customary political label to what was taking place may be a convenient cover or cop-out for some; but more worrying is that when this leads to a unilateral decision to cease all further political dialogue, it transforms a fragile peace into the potential for explosion.

POLICY AND OPERATIONS

Let me remind the country that the Government gives the policy directions, and the security forces are themselves responsible for operations and deployment.

No leader or community can exclude the police from carrying out its legal duty to preserve the peace, detect crime and apprehend those found committing or reasonably suspected of criminal offences.

The rule of law must prevail in all communities. That rule of law must be supervised by the police and not determined by "dons" of any kind or private armies of any organisation or entity.

As part of its ongoing operations to apprehend criminals and seize illegal weapons in portions of the Western Kingston Police District, the police, acting on intelligence, attempted to enter Tivoli Gardens, last Saturday. Before they could, they were attacked by criminal gunmen in the vicinity.

They came under heavy gunfire and were under siege by a heavily-armed group, equipped with high-powered weapons. At one stage, they were outnumbered and surrounded. They were forced to call for reinforcements.

The fact of the mater is that, the new levels of criminality are spurred by international dimensions, dedicated to overwhelm our security forces and any institutions, which stand in their way. There is a new criminal network, which we, like other countries, now have to confront.

Groups and persons whose agenda is to conquer or protect turf for drugs and illicit weapons, who are prepared to create mayhem in achieving their ends, cannot be allowed to mask their evil intent under the guise of age-old fights between political garrisons.

This masquerade must be lifted and brought swiftly to an end.

CONFRONTING THE SECURITY FORCES

Let me emphasise that the police presence in the area was not the subject of any political instruction, nor will this Government ever allow the security forces to embark on a political agenda of their own. As we all know, in the ensuing operations, two members of the security forces were killed and a number of other persons as well.

Two other members of the security forces were subsequently killed at roadblocks, several of which were mounted in Kingston and some rural areas by persons allegedly expressing solidarity with the situation in Tivoli Gardens.

This is a clear challenge to our security forces by paramilitary groups, well organised, highly-armed and determined to confront the nation's security forces.

We cannot allow such disruptive forces to hold the entire society to ransom. The security forces must suppress them without fear or favour.

No one can be allowed to dictate to the security forces when they should enter a particular area, when they should leave, or where they can search.

The security forces cannot accept conditional safe passage out of any troubled area, in the midst of their operations.

In such a situation there can be no retreat!

Yes, the security forces must always operate within the laws and constitutional provisions of the land, they must be professional and humane in the execution of their functions, but they must not otherwise be fettered or ever surrender to criminal elements anywhere.

COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY

Based on the unprecedented nature and magnitude of these events, I have concluded that a Commission of Enquiry is necessary.

Jamaica, and indeed the whole world, must know exactly what transpired.

This Commission will have broad terms of reference. It will be charged to enquire into the causes and circumstances, which resulted in such an upsurge of violence and created the ravages arising in the aftermath.

It will also be mandated to propose concrete steps in light of previous recommendations and current policy initiatives, as to how we most quickly and decisively win the battle against criminal behaviour.

It must be allowed to get to the root of the matter. Before the end of this week, I will announce the precise terms of reference and the membership of the Commission.

LAW, ORDER AND JUSTICE

Brothers and sisters, we must aim to restore law and order everywhere, provide equity and justice for all, to attain social upliftment for every Jamaican.

Let it be clearly understood: We stand firmly behind our security forces and the mandate given to them to maintain law and order throughout the country.

Wherever there are areas of weakness in terms of training, equipment and technical know-how we must and will provide the necessary resources.

We will seek overseas help to bolster the effectiveness of our security forces in dealing with new and unaccustomed forms of criminal terrorism.

We will not condone excesses of any kind by the security forces. They must be balanced and humane. The systems to prevent abuse and the measures to improve community relationships must be enhanced wherever strengthening is required.

For those who have evidence of criminal wrongdoing, or those who wish to make complaints of excessive use of force, there are constituted bodies standing ready and prepared to discharge their proper functions.

ALLEVIATING POVERTY

While the Commission is proceeding on its probe, and the security forces continue their efforts to stamp out crime and violence, we also have to address with great urgency the problems of poverty, unemployment and poor living conditions in our inner cities and elsewhere.

To this end, we have already undertaken an Inner City Renewal Project where we are working on programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and providing more opportunities for young people.

Let me assure you that Government will continue to address these problems with great urgency -- the problems of poverty, unemployment and poor living conditions in our inner cities and other areas of the country.

We are soon to undertake a Social Justice project in nine inner-city communities, designed to strengthen their abilities to resolve conflicts.

I have an unblemished record of seeking at all times to work collaboratively, with all sectors of the society in order to arrive, wherever possible, at consensus on the major issues.

And so, I welcome the efforts by the private sector, by the churches, by a number of civic organisations, individuals and groups who are offering meaningful proposals on how we move from here.

REPAIRING THE DAMAGE

There is no doubt that our country has been hurt by this recent upsurge of crime and violence that we have witnessed over the past few days.

In addition to the loss of lives, there has been considerable damage to property and losses suffered by businesses both big and small, including our market vendors and higglers.

It is indeed unfortunate that we should suffer this blow at a time, when there was mounting confidence and signs that the economy was gaining momentum.

We now have to spend vast sums to repair the damage to property, to revitalise our important tourism industry and to restore confidence among potential investors.

The money we will have to spend on this could have been more profitably spent on development projects in our country.

I am pleased that good sense has finally prevailed and normality has been restored.

This is the time for all of us, whatever our political persuasion, whatever our religious belief, whether we live in urban or rural Jamaica, whether we live uptown or downtown to begin to work together to abolish strife, maintain peace and engender trust among ourselves.

Time is running out. Let us not lose one moment more. Good night.

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