The quick dispatch with which two murder accused were charged with killing (JUTC) bus driver Albert Barnes aided by CCTV technology should give the police, business and home owners and most importantly the Government reason to believe crime in Jamaica can be brought under control.
Police are not miracle workers, as such Investigators have to have a series of things working in their favor in order for them to effectively solve serious crimes like homicides. And yes one cannot discount the importance of a little luck even with the best scientific evidence and eyewitnesses to crimes.
In small crime ridden nation-states like Jamaica where resources allocated to policing are scarce and in many cases non-existent, it is doubly important that stakeholders help in their own personal security and that of their property.
Gone are the days when stakeholders can stand by believing it is up to law enforcement alone to guarantee their security in an ever changing and more violent world.
The fact that these two murderers were brought into custody so swiftly is a teachable moment for all involved including the criminal-coddling courts which is likely salivating at summarily turning these violent murderous vermin back onto the streets to kill again even as they too will pay lip-service to the astronomical murder rate on the Island.
Jamaica is one of the few countries where alleged murderers are allowed out on bail. I am not exactly sure just where else in the world murderers are allowed out on bail but I will do due diligence to come up with answers for that question.
I’m not particularly impressed with talk about “innocent until proven guilty” from neither the village lawyers nor the trained ones who collect paychecks to free these scum.
The rights of an accused murderer cannot be guaranteed at the expense of the wider society which is not accused of any wrong doing.
It follows therefore that those accused of murder be kept locked up even while we ensure they are not abused or violated. Societies simply have to err on the side of caution.
The Jamaican Judicial branch of Government is the antithesis of common sense. The majority of those sitting on the criminals and and the appeals bench are flaming ideological liberals who have zero respect for the feelings of people victimized by brutal criminals.
Not to be outdone the Legislative branch which is largely a bunch of criminal defense lawyers double-dipping as legislators ‚are even worse than their contemporaries on the bench.
The contempt I have for both group, if felt by more Jamaicans would ensure a more accountable and safer Jamaica for all.
The legislative branch failed to attach the necessary punitive teeth to the penal code.
The Judicial branch turn criminals loose based on it’s warped Utopian world-view. The ability of judges to supplant the rule of law with their individual views must now come to an end.
Even though some in leadership position both blind and intellectually challenged sing the praises of the Island’s judges those very judges must take responsibility for their individual and collective role in furthering the murder of innocent Jamaicans by their unconscionable liberal stance on the Bail Act.
It’s time for mandatory minimum sentencing for certain category of crimes.