WHOA, BRUCIE, WHOA! SOMEBODY BAD-DRIVE YOU GOING TO VALE ROYAL? Rumors of immediate jail detention if caught driving without license....

An article in today's Jamaica Observer hinted that the current JLP administration is looking into possibly implementing harsher rules regarding police detention. The proposed changes are raising cause for alarm for some human rights groups.

According to the report, the police force may be granted greater powers to more readily detain civilians. Example: any person found driving without immediate possession of their driver's license would result in sending them immediately to jail without any grace period to produce the license. Other elements of the proposed measure includes: extending detention from 48 hours to 42 days for persons suspected of in cases of rape, murder, firearm offences, and arson.

Mr. Golding - exactly how is detaining a forgetful St. Andrew housewife rushing out to pick up her children from prep school and placing her in the company of gruff men and women going to solve the criminal problem in Jamaica?

Will your administration treat members of your administration equally if THEY are caught in violation?

Do you have the jail space for this proposed solution?

How are you going to deal with vengeful women who cry "Rape!" just because their baby-father pissed them off that day, or think "mi a go get dat deh battyman 'oo nah pay mi nu min' so mi a go fix fi 'im business, watch mi now..."

What about members of the police force with an axe to grind with "Mr. Chin 'oo chase mi out a di grocery shop when mi was a bwoy..."?

While I understand the government's frustration at trying to curb the current violence in Jamaica, this is placing too much power in the hands of a corrupt police force that's easily influenced by monetary gain. The public will never fully trust, respect and obey members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force until they are properly compensated and corruption driven out. Any measure at this time granting them more power of detention may only serve to aggravate the problem and create even more disruption in society rather than appease it.

Mr. Golding, let's re-think this proposition, shall we?