BY R.D.
More that just a trial
Jamaica-Reggae Super Star, VYBZ Kartel- Photo Credit-Carib Photo
The anticipated verdict focused primarily on the Jamaican justice system’s handling of the last disposition, its far-reaching impact on celebrity justice, the treatment of victims, and the message it would send to the next generation, where trust in the criminal justice system is often low.
The trial was larger than the prosecutors, defense counsel, witnesses, law enforcement, how they gathered and preserved evidence, or the lack of communication and proper rules.
Although the Vybz Kartel case did not receive the same worldwide notoriety as the O.J. Simpson case in 1995, A number of individuals in the Caribbean closely monitored this case to determine the outcome of justice.
Quietly, to many, this public case brought back memories of earlier ones in which earlier politicians and the rich and powerful people in the region often walked away free, even when the evidence pointed out that a crime had occurred.
This is not to say that all rich, famous, and powerful defendants were guilty in all earlier cases. However, as many Jamaicans waited in anticipation of the verdict, the alert for civil disobedience and vigilante justice was high.
A test of the judiciary system
Luckily, amidst a divided nation and a high-stakes trial, the Jamaican judiciary system demonstrated its resilience by upholding order following the verdict.
It was truly remarkable how people managed to gain a deep understanding of the jury system and the intricacies of the court process, thanks in large part to the invaluable contribution of the media.
Often, in regions where poor economic conditions still have a strong hold, justice is often seen through the eyes of one’s economic status and notoriety.
In fact, as much as we would like to see a balanced system, often these trial outcomes mirror several other countries based on one’s race, sex, creed, and color.
The mandated strategies to combat crime and public safety should not create a generation of hopelessness. It should make sure that when penal codes are violated, the rule of law as written in the “said constitution” remains intact.
Rule of law, public service, and safety are extremely important, whether in a democratic or totalitarian system of government. To promote central control, a responsive government is required.
This concept guarantees the selection and proper staffing of the departments to uphold integrity and balance the public safety mission.
Who else will be watching?
In the Caribbean region, criminal justice has undergone a transformation, exemplified by the evolution of the police force, which began as a class system protecting private property in Great Britain in the early 18th century and has now evolved into a decentralized global system.
Undoubtedly, this verdict will spark months of debate, offering a fresh perspective on the functioning of this process.
Debating the rule of law is nothing new. After testing the British common law in a court of law, other nations also underwent a period of amendment.
When colonial British powers expanded throughout the Caribbean region, they brought not only slaves, but also a criminal justice system that laid the groundwork for how the government protects its people and implements justice.
However, even though many of his followers may desire restoration and a mental break from colonial imprints, if all local appeals fail, he still has the opportunity to take his case to a system where technology still reigns supreme.
The verdict has put the Jamaican judicial system, law enforcement regulations, entertainers’ role in the system, and the possibility of buying justice to the test. This verdict is more than just one man, and the impact will be long-lasting.
Unfortunately, if the government does not use this opportunity to send a message, key departments will soon be unable to function to their fullest capacity as required to maintain public safety and a fair and balanced system.
What is sad about this verdict is that, despite a modernized process, it appears that when a crime has been solved in the region, several departments stay on trial afterward, such as Vybz Kartel’s conviction.
The final analysis suggests that Vybz Kartel’s new jail number won’t have any impact on the Jamaican stock exchange, the number of additional prisons required, or the economic situation.
However, if this criminal trend persists, given our limited resources, we’ll find ourselves with more questions than solutions when it comes to combating crime and ensuring public safety. In addition, it seems that Jamaica and other regions will soon find themselves in need of additional prisons.
This particular aspect of the justice system often goes unnoticed, particularly in cases where new prisons are being constructed and operated by private entities.
This verdict, perhaps even for this case, also showed that there is some justification in the system somewhere. However, it appears that the blame game persists, focusing on what went wrong and suggesting potential solutions.
Training is now critical and, if the body of government that plays a vital role in upholding the law refuses to investigate gaps from preserving of evidence, and ensuring that officers can conduct comprehensive investigations from the emergency system to tracking criminals, to redefining agility and structural deficiencies, then public trust will still continue to decline.
The community, officials, or the system in general have to be careful not to blame everyone immediately if the outcome is not favorable to expectations.
Dedicated employees might have made some mistakes in the process, but what has taken place after the verdict is that law enforcement seems to have become the focus of the debates.
In the future, the government should establish a commission to examine these issues and determine whether poor staffing and inadequate training in these crucial areas require immediate attention.
Many argue that the system should meet an independent commission, which will be far from coerced-subjectivity and politics, to check any lapse in compliance that has led to overall deficits across the agency that necessitate action.
Photo credit:Getty Images
They must collaborate, communicate about the agency’s overall process, maintain ongoing security, and ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive information.
Although they can slow down the process from hiring to implementing human resources functions, checks and balances are always necessary.
However, immediate action is required to address the concerns of the dedicated staff and, moving forward, to provide some level of internal and external oversight.
Even though I had never heard of him before this trial. However, I understand that he has a large following, and some people may disagree with the outcome, which is perfectly acceptable and democratic in any society. We cannot force anyone to love.
On the other side, imagine the impact he could have had in mobilizing the next generation for better things. Many locals remain l optimistic that this time justice was in the open and not taken up in the hands of a few through retaliation.
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