Summary
The chief duty of the government is to provide a safe, secure and just society for all citizens to live in. With
over a thousand murders per year or an average of three murders per day, this obligation is evidently not
being met. The high level of indiscipline on our roads results in hundreds of deaths each year. In addition to
those killed, there are thousands of others who have been maimed, crippled or disfigured, and are doomed to
live in pain and discomfort for the rest of their lives. Families have been destroyed and thousands of persons,
including children have been traumatized. The usual knee jerk reaction when there is a spike, is not the
solution. The calls to give the police more power, recruit more police personnel, provide more equipment, more
spot check, more speed traps and stop and search etc will never solve the problem. Based on the clear up
and conviction rate of crime in our society, it is justifiable to think that if one is not caught in the act, the
chances are that one will never be caught. For this to change the relationship between the government, the
public and the police must change along with the justice system which must give swift and fair justice. Citizens
must feel comfortable in reporting crime, giving information to the police and appearing in court as witnesses.
The police, judges, prosecutors and other court personnel must be free of fear in carrying out their job in a
fair and impartial manner. The cornerstone and foundation of the Jamaica Action Party (JAP) will be to provide
security and justice for all, and all necessary measures will be taken to achieve this. To this end an elite
investigating team drawn from the very best of the best within the police force and the military and inclusive of
overseas personnel where required will be set up. This team will be responsible for preventing and
investigating all threats or attacks on witnesses, judges, prosecutors, court personnel and the police where it is
believed that these has to do with any attempt to influence the outcome of any case. This team will also be
responsible for providing security for these persons and their family where it is deemed to be required for the
duration of the case and beyond. This team will be equipped and provided with every resources that are
needed to complete their task. There will also be improvement in the witness protection programme to include
cooperation with other government for the temporary and permanent relocation of witnesses and also their
family overseas where required.
A JAP government will provide the funding and resources for the criminal courts to clear the huge backlog of
case and to keep present cases current. The long delays in the conclusion of cases and the eventual
dismissal of some cases, are in large part a contributor to the anger and frustration felt by many members of
the society who feel that if they are to get justice then they must take it into their own hands; which in many
cases lead to further reprisal and more reprisals. Similarly the civil court is face with the same problems. Many
of the cases date back to ten years and over. A major part of bringing crime under control will be to make the
civil courts easily accessible and the resolution of cases done in a timely manner. For justice to be properly
served the offending party must be punished as well as the victim should be restore to the position he or she
would have been in if the breach had not occurred. In almost all cases civil remedies are never pursued as the
cost and time serve as a big deterrent for the victim. It therefore means that persons are not compensated as
the offender will only pay an fine to the government and/or serve time for the offence. JAP will give the same
priority to the civil court as it does to the criminal court so offenders will know that they will likely have to face a
criminal prosecution as well as civil penalties. In other cases that has no criminal liability, the aggrieved person
will also find it very easy to pursue civil action making it less likely for personal conflict between the parties.
The role of the civil courts will be a big part of JAP effort to eliminate crimes. With an increase in cooperation
between the police and citizens, the willingness of witnesses to give information to the police and evidence in
court, a quick trial and the fear of civil penalties along with other measures, a significant drop in crimes will
result. Crime will not pay.
No family, institution or country can be successful without a high level of discipline. The wanton indiscipline in
society, in schools and on the streets will be address through a combination of education and enforcement of
the relevant laws and the enactment of new laws where needed. There are many things that can be done to
enhance and improve the quality of live of the citizens which does not involve the expenditure of large amount
of money. Simple things such as making it legal to turn left on a red light would do much to alleviate the huge
traffic congestion on our street. Of course some intersection would have to be exempted from this. The respect
and protection of the rights of our citizens by the state and its agents will greatly improve the lives of everyone
especially the poor. No family member should have to spend days wandering from one police station to
another in an effort to find the location of their loved one who has been arrested. If the person is not taken to
the local police station then that station should be notified as to where the person is being held. JAP with the
help of the public will identify and remedy all the problems which causes anguish throughout the country but
need very little or no money to fix.
The chief duty of the government is to provide a safe, secure and just society for all citizens to live in. With
over a thousand murders per year or an average of three murders per day, this obligation is evidently not
being met. The high level of indiscipline on our roads results in hundreds of deaths each year. In addition to
those killed, there are thousands of others who have been maimed, crippled or disfigured, and are doomed to
live in pain and discomfort for the rest of their lives. Families have been destroyed and thousands of persons,
including children have been traumatized. The usual knee jerk reaction when there is a spike, is not the
solution. The calls to give the police more power, recruit more police personnel, provide more equipment, more
spot check, more speed traps and stop and search etc will never solve the problem. Based on the clear up
and conviction rate of crime in our society, it is justifiable to think that if one is not caught in the act, the
chances are that one will never be caught. For this to change the relationship between the government, the
public and the police must change along with the justice system which must give swift and fair justice. Citizens
must feel comfortable in reporting crime, giving information to the police and appearing in court as witnesses.
The police, judges, prosecutors and other court personnel must be free of fear in carrying out their job in a
fair and impartial manner. The cornerstone and foundation of the Jamaica Action Party (JAP) will be to provide
security and justice for all, and all necessary measures will be taken to achieve this. To this end an elite
investigating team drawn from the very best of the best within the police force and the military and inclusive of
overseas personnel where required will be set up. This team will be responsible for preventing and
investigating all threats or attacks on witnesses, judges, prosecutors, court personnel and the police where it is
believed that these has to do with any attempt to influence the outcome of any case. This team will also be
responsible for providing security for these persons and their family where it is deemed to be required for the
duration of the case and beyond. This team will be equipped and provided with every resources that are
needed to complete their task. There will also be improvement in the witness protection programme to include
cooperation with other government for the temporary and permanent relocation of witnesses and also their
family overseas where required.
A JAP government will provide the funding and resources for the criminal courts to clear the huge backlog of
case and to keep present cases current. The long delays in the conclusion of cases and the eventual
dismissal of some cases, are in large part a contributor to the anger and frustration felt by many members of
the society who feel that if they are to get justice then they must take it into their own hands; which in many
cases lead to further reprisal and more reprisals. Similarly the civil court is face with the same problems. Many
of the cases date back to ten years and over. A major part of bringing crime under control will be to make the
civil courts easily accessible and the resolution of cases done in a timely manner. For justice to be properly
served the offending party must be punished as well as the victim should be restore to the position he or she
would have been in if the breach had not occurred. In almost all cases civil remedies are never pursued as the
cost and time serve as a big deterrent for the victim. It therefore means that persons are not compensated as
the offender will only pay an fine to the government and/or serve time for the offence. JAP will give the same
priority to the civil court as it does to the criminal court so offenders will know that they will likely have to face a
criminal prosecution as well as civil penalties. In other cases that has no criminal liability, the aggrieved person
will also find it very easy to pursue civil action making it less likely for personal conflict between the parties.
The role of the civil courts will be a big part of JAP effort to eliminate crimes. With an increase in cooperation
between the police and citizens, the willingness of witnesses to give information to the police and evidence in
court, a quick trial and the fear of civil penalties along with other measures, a significant drop in crimes will
result. Crime will not pay.
No family, institution or country can be successful without a high level of discipline. The wanton indiscipline in
society, in schools and on the streets will be address through a combination of education and enforcement of
the relevant laws and the enactment of new laws where needed. There are many things that can be done to
enhance and improve the quality of live of the citizens which does not involve the expenditure of large amount
of money. Simple things such as making it legal to turn left on a red light would do much to alleviate the huge
traffic congestion on our street. Of course some intersection would have to be exempted from this. The respect
and protection of the rights of our citizens by the state and its agents will greatly improve the lives of everyone
especially the poor. No family member should have to spend days wandering from one police station to
another in an effort to find the location of their loved one who has been arrested. If the person is not taken to
the local police station then that station should be notified as to where the person is being held. JAP with the
help of the public will identify and remedy all the problems which causes anguish throughout the country but
need very little or no money to fix.
THE JAMAICA ACTION PARTY
J A P
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