PUBLIC DEFENDER SETS UP OFFICE IN TIVOLI GARDENS

Public Defender, Earl Witter, is
advising persons in and around the West Kingston community, who
witnessed or experienced excesses on the part of the security forces
during the recent civil unrest in West Kingston, to visit or call the
recently established post at the Tivoli Gardens community centre to air
their complaints.

"We have established offices
temporarily in Tivoli Gardens to receive complaints for the ease and
convenience of residents of that community and Denham Town, because we
have received complaints of police excesses and other atrocities," Mr.
Witter told JIS News.

He said that investigations have
already begun and encouraged persons to visit or call to schedule
appointments. The numbers to call are: 922-7109 or 922-8256.

To ensure ease of access and to
avoid jamming of the telephone lines, Mr. Witter said that only persons,
who reside outside of Tivoli Gardens, should call the numbers to be
interviewed or to schedule appointments. Interviews, he informed, will
be conducted at the community centre or at the Public Defender's office
on Harbour Street.

He implored residents inside Tivoli
Gardens to visit the community centre to schedule interviews.

"What we are doing is discharging
our statutory functions to investigate these complaints to determine
whether or not the law enforcement arm of the state, the (Jamaica
Constabulary Force) and/or JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) has infringed any
legal and or constitutional right of any citizen in the purported
exercise of their state of emergency powers," Mr. Witter stated.

The Office of the Public Defender,
he explained, "is an independent commission of Parliament mandated to
investigate governmental maladministration and to protect and enforce
constitutional rights, in particular, the fundamental rights and
freedoms of our people, including the right to life, and the protection
against arbitrary arrest, save during periods of public emergency."

Public Defender, Earl Witter, is
advising persons in and around the West Kingston community, who
witnessed or experienced excesses on the part of the security forces
during the recent civil unrest in West Kingston, to visit or call the
recently established post at the Tivoli Gardens community centre to air
their complaints.

"We have established offices
temporarily in Tivoli Gardens to receive complaints for the ease and
convenience of residents of that community and Denham Town, because we
have received complaints of police excesses and other atrocities," Mr.
Witter told JIS News.

He said that investigations have
already begun and encouraged persons to visit or call to schedule
appointments. The numbers to call are: 922-7109 or 922-8256.

To ensure ease of access and to
avoid jamming of the telephone lines, Mr. Witter said that only persons,
who reside outside of Tivoli Gardens, should call the numbers to be
interviewed or to schedule appointments. Interviews, he informed, will
be conducted at the community centre or at the Public Defender's office
on Harbour Street.

He implored residents inside Tivoli
Gardens to visit the community centre to schedule interviews.

"What we are doing is discharging
our statutory functions to investigate these complaints to determine
whether or not the law enforcement arm of the state, the (Jamaica
Constabulary Force) and/or JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) has infringed any
legal and or constitutional right of any citizen in the purported
exercise of their state of emergency powers," Mr. Witter stated.

The Office of the Public Defender,
he explained, "is an independent commission of Parliament mandated to
investigate governmental maladministration and to protect and enforce
constitutional rights, in particular, the fundamental rights and
freedoms of our people, including the right to life, and the protection
against arbitrary arrest, save during periods of public emergency."