On May 29th I wrote the following :::::
As Police officers and citizens lives continue to be snuffed out in alarming numbers, the Government is deathly silent.
In other countries when a police office is killed there is massive push-back from their societies and certainly Government.
Under both Political parties stewardship, the ruthless killing of Police officers illicit crickets……..
Deafening silence……….
Not Portia, Not Peter Phillips and damn sure not Andrew Holness.
These misguided little morons sit by and make no statement, as if the death of police officers is beneath them, the perrogative of underlings to address.
Who the fuck do they think they are ?
I took a lot of flack by supporters of the Prime Minister who pointed out that the Honorable Prime Minister had indeed issued a statement on the death of constable Leighton Hanson and Detective sergeant Thompson another officer killed albeit days after being shot by hoodlums.
What pains me is that there are police officers and past police officers who are more interested in making the case for politicians than they are at lobbying for better working conditions for themselves, their colleagues and former colleagues.
Fact I wrote the Article on April 29th find link here.
https://mikebeckles.com/governments-lack-of-decisive-action-responsible-for-cop-killings/
Then on Sunday the Prime Minister issued this statement a full day later than my Article was published.
I deeply regret and I am saddened at developments over the weekend which have resulted in two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) losing their lives due to the vicious actions of criminal elements.
Police Commissioner, George Quallo, along with the brave and courageous men and women of the security forces have the full support of the Government in their unrelenting fight to protect the citizenry and themselves against criminal elements.
Detective Sergeant Thompson and Constable Hanson are heroes. I thank them for their courageous actions in confronting criminal elements. Regrettably, they lost their lives. I am deeply hurt at the outcome and our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and the JCF at what is a very difficult time, not only for the Constabulary but for all well-thinking members of society. Indeed, the loss of life of any innocent person due to violence and crime should be strongly condemned. Members of our security forces risk their lives to protect us on a daily basis. We must support them. In a bid to give the security forces the most suitable possible environment to cauterise and eliminate criminal activity, the Government of Jamaica renews its commitment to secure the passage of legislation, including the zones of special operations and community development bill which was recently referred to a joint select committee of Parliament.
It’s increasingly clear that decisive action must be taken by all well-thinking stakeholders, including lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle, in a bid to thwart criminal elements who are not bashful about taking the lives of innocent Jamaicans and confronting the men and women of the Constabulary who are tasked to serve and protect.I am urging the Security Forces not to lose heart but to remain professional and committed to safety and security in Jamaica. I am also urging all Jamaicans to support the Government in efforts to make the necessary social and legislative interventions to significantly reduce crime and violence.
I give the Prime Minister credit for at least issuing a statement albeit late, it was much more than the People’s National Party leader and Prime Minister did while in office.
Nevertheless being shamed into speaking out , ought not be the way we treat the men and women of the security forces who risk all so that we all can sleep at night.
I stand by my statement that the Government did not speak out at the killing of Constable Hanson.
He did speak out , but only after we chided the government for it’s failures.