Government advised to emulate Dudus’ jungle justice

Head of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) Joseph Matalon is imploring the government to emulate fugitive Christopher 'Dudus' Coke in relation to the issue of access to justice.

He believes the order attained in Tivoli and other garrison areas should be sought by the government and can be attained through the ongoing police operations.

He was speaking on Tuesday morning at a PSOJ breakfast meeting at the Ritz Carlton in Montego Bay.

According to Mr. Matalon it is the lack of access to justice that has allowed criminals to remain rooted in the garrison communities.

He says if nothing else, the government can examine the organization of the systems in Tivoli and other communities even as it carries out the important task of reclaiming those communities.

“One of the very important things that Mr. Coke provided in Tivoli, which the government doesn’t provide in a number of communities, is access to and very responsive access to justice. There was order, whatever else there was in Tivoli, there was order,” Mr. Matalon said.  

Mr. Matalon says he wants the security forces to get back into Tivoli and other communities soon to stamp their authority.

He noted that despite the negative impact that the recent incursion and subsequent police operations and curfews have had on the private sector, the group remains in support of the efforts of the security forces.

In the same breath, the PSOJ head is also calling for justice reform.

“We will be supporting, very forcefully, all of the efforts of the security forces but we will also be getting behind the whole business of justice reform, police reform and so on,” Mr. Matalon said.

In the meantime, the PSOJ is not anticipating any significant losses should the State of Emergency be extended.

Mr. Matalon says significant losses were incurred during the period of unrest which those outside of the Corporate Area will continue to feel for sometime, but the State of Emergency is important.

He added that downtown Kingston has returned to a level of order allowing most businesses to get back on track.