Mark Wignall | When tragedy strikes

Last Wednesday, a reader captured the sadness that many Jamaicans were expressing. It is normal that we feel sad whenever a child or a woman is killed in tragic circumstances. In this case, it was a detective sergeant of the Jamiaca Constabulary Force (JCF), while on duty.

The duty did not include him patrolling a tough, inner-city community at night. It did not include him and a small team quickly responding to a report of a machete-chopping violence in a rural village. Neither was he asked to intervene in an incident where one woman had used sulphuric acid on another woman’s face, leading to a lifetime’s disfigurement.

He was at a police station, the well-known Half-Way Tree centrally located near to the criminal court. Information was sketchy but, up until last Thursday, reports are that the detective sergeant was leading a businessman from the courts to the lock-up when a tussle took place. Information is that the detective sergeant was the investigating officer.

It is my understanding that it is standard operating procedure for detainees to be cuffed at the rear. That did not happen. It seemed that, in a matter of seconds during the tussle, another policeman went to help, the businessman grabbed that policeman’s gun, fatally shot the detective sergeant, then turned the gun on himself, ending his life.

There is so much about this matter that meets the it-did-not-have-to-happen meter. But it did. Jamaica is a violent country. Strategically, the police need to treat everyone accordingly. Not long ago, there was another incident at another police station in Jamaica where a man who was being detained also got hold of a policeman’s gun and created havoc. Is it lack of vigilance, lack of awareness, faulty training, a lax attitude, or incompetence? Whatever it is, it is basic police protocol to have detainees secured. If this basic tenet is not being observed, how can the public feel confident the JCF will be able to quell crime.

JPS AND BERYL POLITICS

It is my understanding that the general lethargy of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) in the aftermath of the hurricane has irritated the prime minister. We need not speak to how it has annoyed Minister Daryl Vaz, because he is quite unafraid to exercise his vocal chords.

In the interim, the government has arranged a significant one-time discount for those whose power usage is less than 200KW per month. Was JPS made an offer of assistance outside of the bloc of countries in the Caribbean region in a mutual assistance treaty? Like, say, a huge utility company in Florida.

It is usual that political parties utilise the power of pain after hurricane tragedy to do what all political parties do to gain electoral traction. Would PM Holness not see an immediate opportunity to gain new favour, had JPS sped up its recovery efforts?

Certainly that, put together with the feel-good efforts during the Olympics (although our star roster is somewhat diminished), would tempt the prime minister to spring an election on the PNP. Why not? Obviously, that has now evaporated.

A NEW SPANISH TOWN?

The prime minister has announced that the Government is taking back Spanish Town from criminals. Bold words. The PM’s announcement is in the context of an announcement that there is to be a new JCF divisional headquarters built in St Catherine.

The PM and his Government have had the last eight years to do that (take back Spanish Town). Where have they been? To be fair to the PM, I have spoken to a few business people who have expressed a positive attitude about Spanish Town, but not to the extent that they are willing to risk opening another business branch in that volatile town.

Does he really think the building of a JCF divisional headquarters will take back Spanish Town? Curious thinking on his part. Standing with the PM in the public relations photo was none other than Ms ‘Babsy’ Grange. Well, I guess he had no other choice. Can’t just leave out the veteran JLP stalwart. Can’t just erase the unkind part of some of the more sordid history.

JAMAICAN LINK IN THE WHITE HOUSE

With Joe Biden stepping away from being the incumbent Democratic nominee for President and elevation his VP, Kamala Harris whose father has Jamaican roots, the politics in America leading up to the November elections has become newly energised.

Before that, there was sadness and a while set of democratic pundits was about to settle with what they saw as the inevitable all over again. Donald Trump as President again and a real and not imagined dystopia. But Kamala Harris has brought excitement. And hope.

Let us face it; Biden was pushed out. Politics is ruthless. You can give decades of good service like Mr. Biden and have a bad debate and you are put out to pasture. But as I previously said, it seemed that the optics facing Biden was just not good. It seemed to have been heading to a dark place.

Mrs. Harris is the successor so to speak. and she has a good shot at victory. The Clintons support her, as do Mr. Shumer and Mrs. Pelosi, the real bigwigs in the Democratic Party. And former President Obama and his wife are also on board.

As for Trump he does not want to have to deal with Mrs. Harris. She is younger than him, not borderline senile, like he is, smarter than him, knows policy inside and out and would demolish him in a debate. No wonder Trump has weaseled his way to avoiding that debate. He is deathly afraid of the lady.

Mark Wignall is a political and public affairs analyst. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and mawigsr@gmail.com.