Check out this story from today's Jamaica Observer:
POLICE yesterday tear-gassed protesting Jamaica Labour Party mayors and councillors who were on their way to Jamaica House, drawing outrage from the Opposition.
Just to set the stage and give a bit of background:
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is the opposition in the national parliament. The People's National Party (PNP) controls the government. While most municipal councilors in Canada may have little to do with the federal parties, not so in Jamaica. So, often local councilors will get in on the national scene by taking their problems to the feds.
100 local councilors and eight mayors were marching down the street to deliver a letter of protest to the Prime Minister. The police decided this was illegal and that the proper response was to use tear gas.
The cops say...
"They were advised that they cannot assemble or march within 200 yards of Jamaica House," said the police officer. Later in the morning it was reported that members of the group attempted to march beyond the 200-yard distance which is in breach of the law.
Tear gas was among the options used to disperse them," added Ellington.
The councilors say...
"Permission to do what? To deliver a letter? We did not go within the 200 yards of the compound; we were at Devon House," he said.
".What we saw was blatant criminality by the police," said the mayor. "It speaks volumes when you are walking on the street to deliver a letter and come under attack by the police from Devon House....700 metres away from Jamaica House," said McKenzie.
In another case, a police officer testifies that he saw two other officers collect a gun and a Superintendent plant that gun at a murder scene.
And nightly vigils continue for known Clansman gang leader "Bulbie", killed two weeks ago in a shootout with police.
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