KINGSTON, Jamaica– The Bishop of the Christian Holiness Church in Jamaica, Dr. Alvin Bailey, has called on National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang to resign following his statement last week that law enforcement officials should adopt a zero-tolerance approach in defending themselves from armed thugs who confront them.
“He cannot manage the portfolio, so the decent thing to do is resign, or the prime minister should reassign him to another post,” said Bishop Bailey. In a statement Tuesday, the latter said that the information is consistent with Chang’s continued poor performance and lack of policies to fight crime and violence.
“At this time in our society, with calculated brutal and senseless killings, our constituted authorities cannot advance policies that promote the current rapidly evolving culture of disregard for law and order,” said Bailey, who in January had made a similar call for Chang to resign, citing the country’s crime wave.
National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang
Last Thursday, Chang speaking at a ceremony in Westmorland, the westernmost parish on the island, said, “anytime a man take up a gun after police…when he fires him mustn’t miss. And when he gets hurt, he gets hurt. Once he pulls a gun on a police officer, he must be prepared to deal with it”.
Chang also said that he would prefer if the criminal did not need medical care since that would cost the state “$10 million” (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) to save his life.
His comments were condemned by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and the human rights lobby group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ).
INDECOM, which is charged with undertaking investigations concerning actions by members of the security forces and other agents of the State, said a “shoot to kill” policy should not be the State’s response to crime.
It said the Constitution of Jamaica should guide all public officials in their statements and actions.
For its part, JFJ labeled Chang’s statement as an “unfortunate stance” that could be “interpreted as tacit approval of extrajudicial killings.
“Such an order and instruction to the security forces as a means for cracking down on crime is not only irresponsible, but a clear violation of the right to life and security, as it could lead to further killings in the country while still not moving the country closer to addressing the high crime rate,” the human rights group said, urging all Jamaicans to reject the suggestion by the National Security Minister.
In his statement on Tuesday, Bishop Bailey said people in government could not allow the unabated trend of crime and violence to cause them to become “irrational in speech” or execute their responsibilities.
He urges the government to resume engagement with stakeholders on crime and violence and consider implementing plans proposed by the Crime Monitoring Oversight Committee. He also suggests that a consultative commission, comprising retired high-ranking police officers and judges, be established.
So far this year, Jamaica has recorded 1,108 murders compared to 1,026 for the same period ending September 17 last year.
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