"During the curfew hours of 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., persons entering or leaving Tivoli Gardens are required to obtain an access pass which is issued by the police commander who is located at the police post in the community.
"Persons qualifying for this entry/exit pass are, for example, members of the essential services (nurses, doctors, JPS, JFB, Correctional Services, etc), students who have evening classes, and others who may have various emergencies."
Can You Imagine ? You Leave your home to go to work, then when you return you are told you need a pass to enter your own community and to leave ?
What are they thinking ?
Obviously the Government of Jamaica has some problems to control, but putting people under Lock Down in their own communities with Passbooks and Visas will not work. this is the highest violation of privacy rights. free movement is a right of all individuals and this pass system that is being instituted in Western Kingston can only lead to deeper and deeper rifts between the community, the government and the security forces.
If there was ever a time for discussion - this is it. there is no way the JLP or PNP can hold any seats with this policy in effect. there will certainly be a new party emerging from this latest action; and it will rise above the present folly government like a phoenix.
Bruce and Portia Pack Yuh Bags, Yuh Visa Done in Jamaica Mon !
One of the permits issued by the police which authorised movement out of the community. The name and address have been blurred to preserve privacy. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
Despite denials by the police yesterday that a comprehensive permit system governing all movement was introduced in Tivoli Gardens on Monday, Gleaner checks and anectodal accounts by residents there confirm its existence.
The police said, in a statement issued to the media yesterday, that "During the curfew hours of 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., persons entering or leaving Tivoli Gardens are required to obtain an access pass which is issued by the police commander who is located at the police post in the community.
"Persons qualifying for this entry/exit pass are, for example, members of the essential services (nurses, doctors, JPS, JFB, Correctional Services, etc), students who have evening classes, and others who may have various emergencies."
Ironically, the police preface their version of the permit regulations by "refuting claims in the June 8 edition of The Gleaner" that permits even exist.
However, a photo taken by The Gleaner of a permit issued to a resident contradicts the police statement.
The permit, which makes no mention of applicability to curfew hours only, gives the date, the name of the person receiving the permit, date of birth, occupation and address. It then lists the conditions of the permit. The document appears to have the signatures of the deputy commissioner of police in charge of crime and the ground commander.
When a Gleaner team visited Tivoli Gardens on Monday, residents used the permit to enter and leave the community even in daytime, non-curfew hours.
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