00:00Opposition leader Penelope Beckles is urging government to immediately amend legislation governing the police complaints authority,
00:08saying stronger oversight is needed to improve transparency in police operations.
00:14In a statement issued on Tuesday, Beckles said the PCA should be given enhanced investigative powers
00:20similar to Jamaica's Independent Commission of Investigations, known as Indicom.
00:26She says the proposed changes would allow PCA investigators immediate access to scenes involving police killings,
00:34including the preservation and collection of evidence.
00:37Beckles also renewed the opposition call for mandatory body-worn cameras across all law enforcement agencies authorized to use force.
00:47According to the opposition leader, legislation strengthening the PCA and introducing body cameras
00:53would provide greater accountability and protection for both civilians and police officers.
00:59She criticized Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander over the cancellation of a body camera procurement exercise,
01:07saying the public has received no update on the issue amid ongoing concerns over crime and public safety.
01:14She also accused Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Visasa of failing to adequately address concerns surrounding police transparency,
01:22particularly in relation to the controversial Kaia-Seeli matter.
01:27Beckles said public suspicion surrounding police action has intensified,
01:31and warned that citizens must never feel they are living in what she described as a quote-unquote unchecked police
01:39state.
01:39The opposition leader further argued that the country's prolonged state of emergency measures have failed to adequately address violent crime,
01:47and she called on government to take immediate action on police accountability reforms.
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