Public defender says JCF internal committee misguided in its role; formally writes to AG

Public Defender Arlene Harrison Henry says her office has formally written to the Attorney General seeking legal opinion on the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) internal committee's clearing of five policemen of any wrongdoing in the 2010 incursion in Tivoli Gardens.

Harrison Henry insists that a JCF internal review committee does not have the legal authority to overturn the recommendations of the Tivoli Commission of Enquiry which acted as a quasi-judicial body.

In its report last June, the enquiry's tribunal recommended that five cops Donovan Graham, Everton Tabannah, Steve Waugh, Mario Pratt and the now deceased Winchroy Budhoo be barred from being put in charge of internal security operations.

The enquiry's tribunal said they found credible claims, based on evidence given at the enquiry, of dereliction of duty and extrajudicial killings.

However, the JCF review committee cleared the five policemen on the basis that they found no evidence of the claim made by the enquiry's tribunal.

Speaking on Independent Talk this morning, the Public Defender said the JCF internal committee was misguided in their function.

Harrison Henry says the tribunal of the Tivoli Commission of Enquiry did recommend that the JCF undertake administrative reviews of its operation.

But she says it didn't recommend that the police review itself with a view of clearing or overruling its recommendation.