Fitz Jackson slams Chang over Coopers Pen demolition

Fitz Jackson, Jamaica's Opposition Spokesman on National Security, has sharply criticized Minister of National Security Dr. Horace Chang regarding the recent demolition of homes in Coopers Pen, Trelawny. Chang had stated that the police were obligated to enforce a court order that led to the destruction of approximately 20 housing units, leaving about 20 families homeless.

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The owners have a court order and everybody is subject to that court order, everybody including them and the owner has the right to seek the support of the police to take over the land. If they don’t support them it’s also contempt of court and as I said I am not going to court. We have to obey the court orders, the government, all of Jamaica is subject to the civil court.

Chang explained that the property owners possessed a court order, making the police subject to its execution. He asserted that failure to support the order could be considered contempt of court. However, Jackson countered that while court orders are binding, their enforcement should not override the state's duty to protect human life and ensure the dignity of affected citizens.

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The issue is not whether the court order should have been obeyed. It should. The issue is whether obeying a court order required the Government and the police to ignore the human consequences of its enforcement.

Jackson questioned whether obeying the court order necessitated ignoring the human consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, women, and the elderly. He argued that authorities should implement adequate notice and take reasonable steps to protect those displaced, emphasizing that this is not about disobeying the law but enforcing it with humanity and sound judgment.

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Is it unreasonable to expect that, where an operation is going to displace families from their homes, the authorities would ensure that adequate notice is given and reasonable steps are taken to protect vulnerable people? That is not asking the police to disobey the law. It is asking them to enforce the law with humanity and sound judgement.

The opposition spokesman further contended that the minister's comments risk portraying the police as mere instruments of state force rather than a service dedicated to public safety. Jackson stressed that lawful enforcement and compassion are not mutually exclusive and that upholding court authority should not lead to unnecessary suffering for individuals. He also criticized the government's perceived lack of urgency in addressing the aftermath of the demolition, calling for acknowledgment of the human impact and prompt assistance to those affected.

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Lawful enforcement and compassion are not mutually exclusive. We can uphold the authority of the courts while ensuring that people are not subjected to unnecessary suffering in the process. That should be the standard expected of a professional police service.