Opposition Spokesperson on Justice Zuleika Jess has sharply criticised Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, describing comments he made in Gordon House on Wednesday as “delusional” after he stated that Jamaica is not facing a human rights crisis.
She argues that the rising number of fatal police shootings, concerns over due process and repeated warnings from rights groups, all point to what she describes as a genuine human rights crisis in Jamaica.
“Let me be clear about what is happening in the country right now. Eleven Jamaican citizens were fatally shot by police in a single 24-hour period. This brings our year-to-date total to a staggering 153 police-related fatalities. To look at those numbers and say there is no human rights issue is the very definition of gaslighting the Jamaican public. And it gets worse. INDECOM has confirmed that not one body-worn camera was activated by any officer involved in those 11 fatal shootings. That is a fundamental breach of accountability and it cannot continue,” she argued.
Ms. Jess noted that this denial is an insult to Jamaican citizens, as she called for Mr. Chuck to retract his statement.
“The Ministry of Justice must stop making excuses, face reality and commit to a human rights agenda that genuinely safeguards the constitutional rights of every Jamaican citizen.”