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Amid the continuing outrage over the death of St. James resident Mario Deane, the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party is proposing the establishment of a ‘Human Rights Commission’.
Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness, made the suggestion this morning at a press conference at the Wexford Court Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James.
This, following a tour of the Barnett Street Police lock-up in the parish, where Mr. Deane was severely beaten.
Mr. Holness also met with Mr. Deane’s family.
The Opposition Leader says he’s distressed about Mario Deane’s killing. He describes it as a tragedy and promised support for Mr. Deane’s family in its quest to get justice.
Mr. Holness is also urging the police to use Deane’s death as a turning point.
The police have now charged two men for Mario Deane’s murder. But this hasn’t eased the scepticism about their version of how the 31-year-old construction worker was killed. The police claim Mr. Deane was beaten by fellow inmates.
Mr. Holness says the Police now have a crucial duty.
The Opposition Leader is calling on civil society and other organizations to support Mr. Deane’s family in its effort at getting justice.
This, as he’s indicated that his party will help the family in getting good legal representation.
And, Mr. Holness says the establishment of a ‘Human Rights Commission’ is a useful direction in which to advance the cause of human rights in the country.
He says such a Commission would propose policies the government could undertake to advance the cause.
While telling the media about how touched he’s by Mario Deane’s death, Mr. Holness said the man’s mother told him she doesn’t want another mother to endure the pain and sorrow she’s had.
Mario Deane died at the Cornwall Regional Hospital on Independence Day, three days after being severely beaten at the Barnett Street Police lock-up.
