Jamaica Gleaner News - 'Ungrateful nation' - Jamaicans blasted at Kameka's funeral - Senior cop demands an eye for an eye - Monday | December 17, 2007

Jamaica was accused yesterday of being an "ungrateful nation" for the disrespect shown to the nation's police force which daily battles brazen murderers. This charge was issued by Sidjea Robinson, niece of Gilbert Kameka, the slain assistant commissioner of police whose marathon funeral took place at the Mount Salem Seventh-day Adventist Convention Centre in Montego Bay.

"We criticise the police, lambaste them and discount the value of the work that they do, while they get a basket to carry water," said a passionate Robinson.

"Police officers put their lives on the line for the sake of law, order and justice. They expect no thanks, but they do expect respect and support."

Robinson's was one of approximately 20 tributes offered during the four-and-a-half-hour service at the packed convention centre for the life of a man described as non-confrontational, "humble, yet indomitable" and "one of the brightest minds to ever join the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)".

Yielding no ground

Superintendent Norman Heywood, chairman of the Police Officers' Association, declared that the police "would not yield an inch of soil to thugs with guns".

Retired ACP Linton Latty, in belligerent fashion, advocated for the application of the Mosaic law - an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.

Musical tributes came from the Area Four Police Choir, the ACP's alma mater, Manning's School, and the JCF choir.

Smith promises justice

Security Minister Derrick Smith, who read a lesson at the funeral, sent a direct message to the criminals that law-abiding Jamaicans would not surrender to them.

"I want to assure you that the Government of Jamaica will not leave one stone unturned in our pursuit to bring to justice those who have struck at the very heart of the security of our nation."

The eulogy was read by Deputy Commissioner of Police Linval Bailey.

Kameka became the most senior policeman to be murdered in Jamaica in recent memory when he was shot dead in the rustic community of Irish Town in St. Andrew on November 29.

ACP Kameka had served the Jamaica Constabulary Force for 28 years and was the commander of the Area Four Police Division. Kameka's coffin was draped with the Jamaican flag, the cop's hat and sword resting neatly on top. He was buried with full honours atthe family plot in Haddo, Westmoreland.

Boy shows how deep shit is when an ACC can be killed on active duty. Can't tell you the last time an operational Assistant Chief Constable been killed in Europe/Britain/America/Canada...Like never...

Never mind, soon have the Commissioner himself busting shots and rolling on the ground and hiding behind cars to shield themselves from them shottas them have in JA..But rate those boys for one thing they don't discriminate or fear rank when it comes to kill

Haven't been to Jamaica since 1993. It's funny that my African American friends go all the time and have nothing but praise for it.

My only suggestion to fight the exorbitant crime is to declare a state of emergency, establish a strict curfew, go door to door to search for illegal weapons and order the soldiers to assist the police with fighting crime. Jamaica only gets worse each year vis-a-vis the murder rate. I don't see any improvements.

AJC but if my memory serves me correct Jamaica has had about three of these type of responses and possibly more and doesn't seem to have addressed the underlying cause of this thing?

BP said'Jamaicas ****ed right now.

even my dad went home this year and said thats probably the last time he gonna go home....the atmosphere aint nice again.

Its a shame really as he had plans to go home to retire so for him to say such a thing its must have really gone downhill

what gets me is why are jamaicas problems not mirrored in other carribean islands?

its a damm shame I tell you....I remeber the days when jamaicas was the shit for tourism now people avoid it like the plague
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Sorry to hear about your dad..but some advice i try to give to people, and especially from JA but less of an issue with younger people, is always best to get to know two Caribbean islands. Was with my sister in law and her folks, from JA the other day and they have been to almost every island in the Caribbean and know it like the back of their hand, so they have options which others simply do not have when it comes to retirement.

All islands are unique, even when they appear literally the same, but Jamaica, its history, culture and sociology/politics is very very unique which brings together this cocktail of violence which stands out..But be careful the rise in murder and violence in other islands is all relative. Take St Lucia, which is one of the bigger Eastern islands and a key indicator of what is going on around it, the murder rate has gone crazy...OK 10 death by half a year aint shit in Jamaica, but represents something like a 800 percent rise over 20 years. Grenada to me, probably with Dominica is paradise on earth (i just love the place) them boys are shooting up each other like joke..Ok small numbers by JA standards, but unbelievable by the cultural standards of the people themselves.

Literally all these killings are in geographical areas as big as my palm, due to gangs and drugs etc, and does not affect the rest of the country, but it does affect the sense of security and fear people have so they will be as concerned about crime as a priority as in JA. Don't talk about urban Trinidad where them boys gone Latin American and hundreds of people are kidnapped every day and pieces of their bodies being sent home to families to make them know they aint messing. But then Trinidad has a particularly violent history.