Where is the outrage?

CARTERWOOD, Trelawny — Minister of religion Lisean Gordon has criticised what she described as the public’s readiness to demand justice when police officers use force, but silence following the killing of two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) last Friday. Preaching under the theme ‘Let the Children Know’ during a Heritage Week Thanksgiving Service at the Greater Highway Church of Christ Apostolic in Caterwood, Trelawny, on Sunday, Gordon said the lack of comparable demonstrations demanding justice for the slain cops reflects a troubling imbalance. “They may be somebody’s father, somebody’s son. Nobody came out because we have placed in the heart of ungodly people that we are allowing them to take over this country, all in the name of politics,” said Gordon as she addressed the service hosted by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) in Trelawny and the Trelawny Municipal Corporation. Two members of the JCF’s Special Operations Branch, Corporal Trevoy Shaw and Constable Devoney Rose, sustained fatal gunshot wounds during a firefight with men who had barricaded themselves inside a house in the Five Miles area of St Catherine on Friday. Three civilians, Errol Hussey, his son Malique Hussey, and nephew Javoun Cogle, also died in the incident while a 10-year-old girl was left nursing a gunshot wound. Delivering the sermon, Gordon condemned the tendency to vilify members of the police force without knowing the circumstances surrounding an encounter, and charged that media coverage and circulating recordings often fuel premature judgements.

Members of the Trelawny Police Division choir singing during the Heritage Week Thanksgiving Service at the Greater Highway Church of Christ Apostolic in Caterwood, Trelawny, on Sunday. (Photo: Horace Hines)

Gordon linked the hostility towards law enforcement personnel to a broader erosion of respect for authority, and contended that political allegiance is encouraging Jamaicans to excuse behaviour they might otherwise condemn. “There is something called the hidden curriculum, which we sometimes forget about. The hidden curriculum: What they see us do is what they will do,” said Gordon, who is also an educator. She also took issue with verbal attacks against political leaders, including Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding, warning that adults risk normalising disrespect among children who observe and absorb their behaviour. “This disrespect that we put up with…because we are affiliated to a party, and to politics, it must stop. Disrespect is disrespect, and everybody who leads us needs to be respected, whether they are on the Opposition side or they are on the ruling side,” declared Gordon. She argued that while children are taught to assert their rights, adults are neglecting the importance of responsibility and accountability. “But we teach them about their rights, but no longer teach them about their responsibility,” Gordon said as she insisted that parents and other adults must uphold discipline, principles, and respect rather than retreat from the challenges of raising the younger generation. She warned that Jamaica faces a dangerous escalation of disorder if the erosion of these values continues, describing the threat as a storm more severe than Hurricane Melissa.

Mayor of Falmouth C Junior Gager speaking during the Heritage Week Thanksgiving Church Service at the Greater Highway Church of Christ Apostolic in Caterwood, Trelawny, on Sunday. (Photo: Horace Hines)

“I am afraid of what is coming to Jamaica. There is a storm coming that is worse than Melissa… It’s called a storm of lawlessness, it’s called the storm of disorder, and it’s coming towards us. It’s worse than a Category 5,” said Gordon. The minister of religion urged Jamaicans to reflect on the values they are passing on to their children as she argued that a meaningful inheritance extends beyond material possessions. Meanwhile, mayor of Falmouth C Junior Gager, in his remarks, called on Jamaicans to preserve the legacy of the national heroes through their everyday actions rather than limiting remembrance to speeches and ceremonies. “Our national heroes stood firm in the face of adversity, injustices, challenges, and paved the way for the freedom and opportunities we enjoy today,” Gager said. He urged citizens to serve their communities, stand up for what is right, invest in young people, and work together to build a better Jamaica. Gager also underscored the Church’s role in strengthening families and communities through prayer, mentorship, compassion and outreach, helping young people embrace their heritage and recognise their potential.