Political blunder! - Opposition stands alone as J’cans side with Gov’t on SOEs
Published:Tuesday | March 12, 2019 | 12:00 AMErica Virtue/Senior Gleaner Writer
Political commentator Dr Paul Ashley has argued that the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) should have taken its concern regarding the “unconstitutionality” of prolonged extensions of the states of emergency (SOE) to court, noting that it blundered when it voted in Parliament to discontinue the measure.
RJRGleaner-commissioned Don Anderson poll released yesterday revealed that the overwhelming majority of Jamaicans were in support of SOEs and zones of special operations (ZOSOs).
“The PNP opposed the SOEs on the basis of them being unconstitutional. If they believed so, go to the court and ask the court to make a determination. If the court agrees with them, then they would not have to vote. Now the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is killing them islandwide. This is what you call a self-inflicted, unforced error. And they are paying for it all over,” said Ashley.
According to him, the party had too many lawyers for it not to have gone the route of the courts.
The Don Anderson poll showed that the Government’s attempt to stem crime and violence in sections of the island in 2018 by imposing SOEs and ZOSOs received strong support from Jamaicans. The poll was conducted between February 15 and March 3, this year. The pollster interviewed 1,003 people islandwide.
Anderson found that 90 per cent of Jamaicans supported the Government’s imposition of SOEs in St James, St Catherine North and Kingston in 2018. At the same time, 81 per cent believed the SOEs have been effective crime-fighting tools.
Thirteen per cent did not believe SOEs were effective crime-fighting tools.
The poll also revealed that 73 per cent of Jamaicans wanted SOEs and ZOSOs to be included islandwide as part of crime-fighting mechanisms, while 23 per cent were unsure.
A further 78 per cent supported the Government’s desire to extend the SOEs but 17 per cent did not agree. More than 70 per cent of respondents said personal sacrifices, such as detentions for long periods without charge, and placement in holding areas that were unsanitary and unsatisfactory, were necessary. It has been argued that the majority of the persons detained were poor black Jamaicans, many without the ability to get legal representation.
Scores of Jamaicans, including a law student, were detained without charge and later released.
There was no love for the Opposition, which did not support Government’s decision to extend the SOEs in a parliamentary vote. Leader of the Opposition Peter Phillips had said at a press conference in December that he was aware of the political risks when they voted to discontinue the SOEs. He indicated that the party was willing to pay a political price in protecting the Constitution of Jamaica.
However, 67 per cent of respondents disagreed with the stance the Opposition took, with only 27 per cent sharing their view.
Opposition Spokesman on National Security Fitz Jackson said the party was not backing down from its decision not to support the extension. According to him, “A political party that stands on principle cannot surrender that principle for political expediency.”
Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Jackson said it was understandable that people supported the measures, which they associated with increased security presence.