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for their public-spiritedness. Bishop Blair, in particular, displayed
profound patriotism and courage in initiating sincere attempts to avert
a violent confrontation between gunmen and the security forces. Coke
was not interested in any rapprochement. He had already had plans in
place to mount an offensive against the security forces and had begun
to barricade Tivoli Gardens to prevent the forces’ entry to arrest him.
Bishop Blair’s evidence was very helpful to the Commission because it
afforded credible and authoritative support to the evidence of the
security forces that Coke was amassing a large contingent of gunmen
in West Kingston.
7.54.
The concerns expressed by Prime Minister Golding to the
heads of the security forces to avoid injury to residents and their
acceptance of the concern of the Prime Minister was a demonstration
of consensus-building. That the security forces did not heed the
concerns after the operation commenced was regrettable and is given
further treatment in this Report.
7.55.
We view favourably the specific measures taken by the
security forces, particularly the JCF, to avoid a violent confrontation.
The public appeals to residents of Tivoli Gardens to remain calm and
allow the JCF to enforce the law were worthwhile initiatives. Similarly,
the assurances by the Commissioner of Police, through Bishop Blair, to
Coke as to his safety if he surrendered, were appropriate, having
regard to Coke’s expressed fears. On the evidence presented to the
Commission, there is little room for a dissenting argument that the JCF
did not attempt to avoid violent conflict prior to 24 May.
7.56.
Limiting the State of Emergency in time and space was
another example of measures designed, as far as practicable, to