Senators condemn attack on police, call for civil society to do the same

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Government and Opposition senators used the start of Friday’s sitting of the Senate to condemn the killing of Police Corporal Trevoy Shaw and the injury of two of his colleagues, during an early morning shootout between the police and gunmen in Five Miles, Sligoville in St Catherine. READ: UPDATE: Two men killed after gun battle with police in Sligoville “Jamaica has lost one of her brave and courageous sons, one who signed up to serve, protect and reassure,” said Government Senator Marlon Morgan, as he paid tribute. “This morning’s development underscores the hazards of the job, it underscores the challenges that our policemen and women confront and have to grapple with in the line of duty, as they seek to make Jamaica a safe place,” he added.

Morgan said the Senate had to register its debt of gratitude to the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) “and our immense grief at the loss of the officer...” Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Donna Scott-Mottley in addressing the matter said, “We understand, respect and appreciate the police in the lawful execution of their duty which is to serve and protect. When we see a member who has lost his life...in that way, the country must respond,” she said. For his part, Government Senator Christian Tavares-Finson urged civil society groups to condemn the killing of the policeman.

“I express my sympathies to those other members of the police force who were involved in this tragic incident,” he said. Tavares-Finson added that, “When these officers go on duty, they risk their lives each and every time because of the prevalence of guns in Jamaica”. Continuing, he said, “I want to take this opportunity to ask the civil society groups [who] quite often speak out against the government and its policies, to condemn this type of behavior, to condemn the shooting of our police officers”.

Opposition Senator Lambert Brown also condemned the early morning attack on the police which also left two gunmen dead, one of whom is said to be the son of a policeman who recently retired from the force. Two civilians were also injured during the standoff. Said Brown,“My heart, and that of the Leader of Opposition Business, and of all right-thinking people in the country, goes out to the men and women of the security forces”.

Brown noted that the task of the police is a difficult one, “but they pledge t…