Big sadness and a whole heap of tension a bubble up inna Manchester right now as the news spread say a police officer finally get charge fi the death of a young woman. The whole island been watching this case close-close from it happen back inna August, and now the law finally step inna the matter. It’s a situation that leave a bitter taste inna the mouth of the residents because the lady who lose her life was just a bystander during a heated protest.
The situation start out when the people inna the community did have enough of the bad road and the lack of water. You know how it go already—when the pipes dry and the road full of pot-hole, the people ago take to the streets fi make dem voice heard. Things did get hot inna the Broadleaf area, with fire a burn and people a chant fi justice. It was during this ruckus that the police arrive fi clear the road, but instead of peace, more chaos follow. People say the officer fire him weapon into the crowd, and that is when tragedy strike.
Jhaneel Gowie, a young woman with her whole life ahead of her, get hit by the bullet. The community say she wasn't even part of the rowdy behavior; she was just there when the lead start fly. When the news hit the ground say she pass away, the anger inna Manchester move from a simmer to a boil. People start bawl out say the police need fi be more careful with how dem handle dem service weapon, especially when dem dealing with civilians who just frustrated over basic needs.
The Independent Commission of Investigations, which everybody know as INDECOM, did take up the case one time. Dem spend months a sift through the evidence, talking to witnesses and checking the ballistics. After all the checking and balancing, the Director of Public Prosecutions decide say the officer have a case fi answer. Him get charge with murder and appeared before the court where the judge give him bail, but the conditions strict. The people inna the community watching every move because dem want see if true justice ago serve this time.
This whole vibes just show the deep gap that sometimes exist between the police and the people dem suppose to protect. While the police have a hard job fi keep order, the community feel like too often dem use excessive force when a likkle bit of talk and patience coulda solve the problem. Every time a situation like this happen, it make the trust between the Jamaican Constabulary Force and the average man on the corner get even thinner. Everybody just a wait now fi see what the trial ago bring and hope say Jhaneel family can get some peace after all this heartache.
For now, the area quiet but the memory of that day still fresh inna everybody mind. It serve as a reminder that even when we a fight fi road and water, life is the most precious thing we have. The people of Manchester say dem not going let this one slide under the rug, and dem a keep dem eyes wide open as the legal system do what it haffi do.
No comments:
Post a Comment