The Government is to offer an apology to residents of west Kingston over the operation by the security forces in the area in May 2010, which left dozens dead and injured and millions in damage to houses and other properties.
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck yesterday told The Gleaner-Power 106 News that the apology was being crafted, adding that “in a matter of weeks, it is likely that it is to be presented to Parliament”. The apology is expected to be delivered by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Making an apology is one of the 15 recommendations made to the Government by the commission of inquiry into the incursion. The 900-page report of the three-member panel, which was chaired by Barbadian jurist Sir David Simmons, was released to the public in June after being tabled in Parliament.
Promoting restorative justice
“With the deaths of 73 civilians and a soldier, the commission noted that a public apology is necessary in order to assuage the hurt feelings, bitterness, and resentment of the people of West Kingston, and, with a view to promoting restorative justice and bringing closure to this sorry chapter in Jamaica’s history,” the report stated.
“We recommend that the Government of Jamaica apologise in Parliament to the people of West Kingston, and Jamaica as a whole, for the excesses of the security forces during the operation. The Government is, in the last resort, responsible for the conduct of its security forces,” the report further charged.
Regarding redress, Chuck said a compensation committee is to be set up “soon” and that once that is done, he hopes that it will complete its work “in a matter of months”.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the justice ministry indicated that the Cabinet committee reviewing the report of the May 2010 Commission of Inquiry is taking steps to come up with a system to implement the commission’s recommendations.
“The committee is currently looking at structures and the management of the implementation process because while some of the recommendations are short term, such as the apology that is to be made to the residents of West Kingston, some recommendations will require extensive administrative changes and legislative interventions that will be implemented over a medium- to long-term period,” Chuck is quoted as saying.
Chuck, who chairs the committee, says the work of the body would bear in mind the objectives of the recommendations, namely, restoring and promoting trust and confidence in the State; compensating victims for property damage, wrongful death, and injuries; controlling the use of force of the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force; and dismantling garrisons and mitigating the conditions that give rise to them.
He noted that the committee submitted its first report to the Cabinet on Monday and that it would report to the Cabinet periodically on the proposed approach to be taken to implement the west Kingston commission recommendations.
Apologising won’t change anything!
Not too into him!
But I have to give some credit as it’s probably the first in government from either side that they’re going to acknowledge that they did something wrong and apologise for it!
If you don’t it matters and if you DO it still matters, Apologizing won’t change the fact that so many people died, but this wasn’t under the present government Jurisdiction and the fact that Andrew is reaching out to even mend whatever pieces with this troubled area My God, Give him that much respect. Portia did not do it and if she was in power the numbskull wouldn’t even have the decency to. SMH. This man approach to Govern the country is beyond what any Government has done in the past and that is reaching out to our people.
Yes I agree! That’s is why I say I have to give him some credit!
Apologize if wah? A so it go Inna war, who apologizing to the family of the dead soldier or for the torching of the police stations
him a look hype bout apologize. Because him criminal affiliates down there. Not a word from him about all the kids that die under his watch. He is so fake, this is a slap in the face of law biding citizens, who were affected by this.
@menuhbusiness so wah bout all the kids that died unda lisa hanna for 4 yrs? how u nuh have nuh chat fi dat? kmt for 4 years and u hardly hear hanna seh nuttin bout them even the premature babies that died under fergusons term? all lisa hanna do is pose fi picture and post on instagram…kmt hypocrite much?
Please see with them, the PNP comrades is a bunch of arrogant illiterates. Give them one pound a chicken back and they run all over the internet with their stupidity.
This is quite refreshing and I comment Mr. Holiness for making this move. Kudos and much respect Prime Minister Holiness–you are demonstrating true courage and leadership and I implore others to follow your lead.
Correction: commend not comment.
^^^^ come afa mi ra$$ comment bout pnp, if any of u did political science or studied history u would know jlp is the worst kind!!! GTFOH to be a laborite is worst than being a rapist. maybe if unuh crwal outa bolt & kasi battyhole long enuf fi air unuh wuda tek up a book & read it kmt a who unuh man. Lisa neva kill nobody pickeny but a big model unuh vote fi a bg rass man the pm look fool as duck, kmt nobody nuh like freeness like laborites dem no wah pay fi nothing a fi unuh government say life free off the backs of hardworking ppl. go chuck off outa see germs. I am a proud comrade & i didn sell my vote for $5000 nor $18,000. I sleep well at nights with my doors locked from u criminal jlp goons.
A shame the old fart shame