‘We’re not anti-police!’ - Abrahams demands justice for all

Social commentator and medical doctor Michael Abrahams is urging Jamaicans to reject the idea that the justice system is set against the police, insisting that what's needed is consistent accountability across the board.

"There's this dangerous narrative of 'us versus them' like the courts are fighting the police but that's not the case," Abrahams told THE STAR. "All we're asking for is fairness and accountability."

His comments come at a time when public trust in state institutions remains fragile, particularly surrounding fatal police shootings and unresolved cases involving citizens from inner-city communities.

Despite this, Abrahams says the conversation shouldn't be framed as anti-police.

"I personally love the police. I respect the police. I support the police," he said. "It makes me sad when people turn this into a kind of rivalry, like a Man United vs Arsenal match. That's not what this is. It's not about sides - it's about justice."

Abrahams said while he recognises the police do a difficult and often thankless job, there are still cases where justice remains elusive.

"Some inner-city youths have been killed under questionable circumstances and all now it can't be sorted out in the courts," he said. "It's just being a voice for the voiceless, and it's not against the police. We're just asking for them to consistently wear body cams."

He noted that he was encouraged to see some officers now wearing the devices, which are intended to offer greater transparency during police operations.

"Every organisation has people who do wrong. I'm a physician, and not every doctor is good. Same with politicians. And yes, same with the police," he said. "Sometimes people get killed under questionable circumstances and there's no justice."

Abrahams pointed to well-known cases that still leave questions unanswered. "Mario Deane, Michael Gayle, Janice Allen - those people still don't have justice. And the reality is, not all inner-city youth are criminals. But some people, once there's a shootout, just assume the person dead was a bad man and deserved it. That's not right."

"And it goes both ways. Sometimes you watch the news and somebody gets killed by the police, and the people in the community lie, the man is a criminal, the man is a murderer, you know that."

While crime statistics have recently shown signs of decline, Abrahams said he takes no issue with the official data but there is room for greater transparency.

"If the government gives the statistics, or the ministry gives the statistics, I'm not in a position to say they're not true. That would be unfair of me," he said.

"But they can break down the data for us. I'm glad there's evidence that the crime and murder rate is going down. That's good news."

For Abrahams, it all comes down to justice. "All we want is justice. We're not anti-police. We just want accountability consistently."