Dear Editor,
Now that the Supreme Court has validated the right of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) to arrest and prosecute members of the security forces for infractions, there is one more thing that is needed -- their own independent court.
Although the Supreme Court ruling is being appealed, I would hope that all of us are in support of the idea as it seems to be a good one. If the Supreme Court's ruling is overturned, I would hope that the law would be changed to clearly give INDECOM the power to arrest and prosecute wayward members of the security forces.
I must admit that I was a bit sceptical about this INDECOM idea at first. Why create another state organ that will get nothing done? However, while granting the power of arrest to INDECOM is good, what use will it still be if after arresting and prosecuting wayward officers, their cases end up dying natural deaths in our courts?
Remember that pregnant woman who was killed by a police officer in St Thomas because she cursed at him, about a year ago? Remember another pregnant woman who was also killed by another police officer, also in that same parish about two years before that? What has become of these cases? Are they dead?
Let's face it, our view of our legal system will only get dimmer if INDECOM takes cases to our clogged-up courts only to have them forgotten. What we need, in addition to INDECOM, is "INDECOURT" an independent court for members of our security forces.
INDECOURT should only accept cases from INDECOM that deal with members of the security forces. It should be made as efficient as possible, so that lengthy delays are avoided. This should go a far way in helping to restore some badly needed confidence -- both in our security forces and our court system.
The DPP should be relieved that it will have fewer cases to clear up. Also, those members of the security forces who act professionally and within the law should be glad that something is being done to clean up their image. As such they should have nothing to worry about.
Michael A Dingwall
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Security forces need their own court -- INDECOURT
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Now that the Supreme Court has validated the right of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) to arrest and prosecute members of the security forces for infractions, there is one more thing that is needed -- their own independent court.
Although the Supreme Court ruling is being appealed, I would hope that all of us are in support of the idea as it seems to be a good one. If the Supreme Court's ruling is overturned, I would hope that the law would be changed to clearly give INDECOM the power to arrest and prosecute wayward members of the security forces.
I must admit that I was a bit sceptical about this INDECOM idea at first. Why create another state organ that will get nothing done? However, while granting the power of arrest to INDECOM is good, what use will it still be if after arresting and prosecuting wayward officers, their cases end up dying natural deaths in our courts?
Remember that pregnant woman who was killed by a police officer in St Thomas because she cursed at him, about a year ago? Remember another pregnant woman who was also killed by another police officer, also in that same parish about two years before that? What has become of these cases? Are they dead?
Let's face it, our view of our legal system will only get dimmer if INDECOM takes cases to our clogged-up courts only to have them forgotten. What we need, in addition to INDECOM, is "INDECOURT" an independent court for members of our security forces.
INDECOURT should only accept cases from INDECOM that deal with members of the security forces. It should be made as efficient as possible, so that lengthy delays are avoided. This should go a far way in helping to restore some badly needed confidence -- both in our security forces and our court system.
The DPP should be relieved that it will have fewer cases to clear up. Also, those members of the security forces who act professionally and within the law should be glad that something is being done to clean up their image. As such they should have nothing to worry about.
Michael A Dingwall
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com
Security forces need their own court -- INDECOURT
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