Henry Jeffrey urges probe of 'Black Clothes'/Carroll alleged link
-in paper to PPP/Civic members
Stabroek News
August 31, 2002

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A leading member of the PPP/Civic, in a paper circulated to the party's hierarchy and the members of the Civic group, has called on the government to probe the involvement of the 'Black Clothes' police in the Thomas Carroll visa sale ring.

The paper calls too for the government to state its intention to take action against those members of the Police Force who breach their operation procedures.

Education Minister Dr Henry Jeffrey over the past few months has circulated his thoughts on this and a number of other issues in writing for the party's consideration. He contends that "police accused of acting outside the normal rules cannot in the medium term help the PPP/C or the police" and that irrespective of the motives of the opposition, "our duty as democrats is to run a democratic state."

The recommendations, which Jeffrey has been making, have never been withdrawn and remain the table.

Jeffrey sees the impasse between the government and the PNC/R as impeding the resolution of the present difficulties and warns, "Like in trade unionism, the longer and more acrimonious a confrontation, the more expensive the demands for settlement becomes. In other words, what may have ended a conflict at the commencement may not be enough as the conflict is prolonged."

In recommending the investigation into the activities of the 'Black Clothes' police, Jeffrey observes that it is inevitable after the revelations in the Carroll affair.

He suggested the investigation months before the involvement of members of the 'Black Clothes' police was disclosed at the sentencing hearing of Carroll and details of his proffer statements were publicized in the local media.

It is only with the recent disclosures that the government has agreed to look into the allegations, retreating from its position that an inquiry into the activities of the squad would give the impression that the whole force was under investigation.

In his paper Jeffrey makes the case that crime and politics have negatively combined in various ways as a result of concern about the popular perception that the police deliberately kill instead of capture people wanted by them; that people are "killed and not captured for political reasons and by/or forces directed by politicians." Also he said that there exists the possibility of some elements in the community using the present wave of crime to undermine, if not overthrow, the administration.

Jeffrey recommends that the police complaints' mechanism should be improved and be more proactive, a view already expressed by the new head of the complaints authority, Cecil Kennard.

Other recommendations include the wide publication of the procedures that should be followed by the police in interaction with the public and the commitment of the government to seeing that these procedures are observed. He also recommends "stringent action against those who breach the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)".

In dealing with the issue of extra-judicial killings, Jeffrey contends "the government has not acted proactively and in a timely manner to see that investigations and inquests are held. There can be no excuse for the government not being visibly proactive in this area. It is insufficient to talk about the normal judicial delays: we are the government."

He says that the government's stance "can give the impression that the government is in support of such activities" which results in important elements of civil society finding "it difficult to give the government's anti-crime efforts one hundred per cent support."

Another consequence of the government's position, according to Jeffrey, is that "political[ly] opportunistic elements and even suspected criminals gain a level of support."

In supporting his recommendations about addressing the accusations about political killings such as that generated by for example the shooting of Shaka Blair, Jeffrey contends that the only way to deal with them is for the "state to be visibly proactive" in mounting timely and objective investigations. (An inquest into the death of Shaka Blair is currently in progress.)

In addressing the danger posed by elements in the society using the present wave of crime to undermine the administration if not overthrow it, Jeffrey argues that concerns about the security of citizens are shared by both the PNC/R and important elements of civil society.

To defuse any possible threat of subversion, Jeffrey argues, the government must, among other things, move towards positively addressing the concerns of the PNC/R especially as these relate to governance issues. It must also ensure that the police act within the law as set out in SOP and mount timely and objective investigations where the SOP is breached especially in cases where the loss of life occurs.

He stresses that the government should "not allow the second-guessing of motives to lead to political inertia."