It's Worst in Jamaica

One year has passed since the brutal killing of George Floyd. The images of the murder particularly traumatized African Americans. Black mothers are crippled with fear when their sons leave home. Mothers in Jamaica's poor neighborhoods are similarly traumatized. Because like in the States, Jamaica has an astronomical number of police killings.

We have the highest rate in the Caribbean and the 6th highest in the world. Which is far worse than the US's rate. Unlike Usain's record, this is not something to be proud of.

Also, just like in the States, the police are almost never punished for their crimes. Since the pandemic, law enforcement officers killed Susan Bogle, a poor defenseless disabled mother in her home; Carmichael Dawkins, a teenager on his way home; Jevaughn Duhaney, a young man eating bun and cheese, etc. And yet not one police officer has even been arrested. It's a systemic problem of harassment, bullying, and other human rights violations.

Although many leaders publicly condemned George Floyd's murder, the Jamaican Prime Minister was eerily silent on the issue. This is completely understandable. Because it would be quite hypocritical for Holness to condemn police killings anywhere when Jamaica has an even worse problem. And if the official number of killings is so bad, can you imagine what the real number is? Have you heard about the recent testimony from Police Constable 'Chucky' Brown that confirmed the existence of death squads within the police force?

The Americas director at Amnesty International, Erika Guevara-Rosas, said, "As the world experiences a collective moment of outrage and grief over the police killing George Floyd and so many other Black people in the United States, the Jamaican government must take this opportunity to put an end to its own human rights violations by the police."

Jamaica is viewed as an idyllic tropical paradise. But that perception is far from the reality of the bitter lives most endure. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's almost like black lives don't matter in Jamaica.