35 / 494
34
Political Support for the Commission
2.55.
The Commission has enjoyed a measure of bi-partisan support. It
was established during the administration of the People’s National Party (PNP)
but former Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, came to the Enquiry as a witness
and told us that his administration (the JLP) had fully intended to establish a
Commission of Enquiry into the events.
Conclusion
2.56.
First, we believe that the Commission served to facilitate the voices
of those who suffered and felt aggrieved. They were able to recount and even
re-enact their experiences – with the nation as an audience. Secondly, the
Enquiry served to highlight certain constraints on power in Jamaica’s democracy.
Symbols of accountability were seen through the testimony of the former Prime
Minister and former Ministers. The Enquiry also provided a platform for
demonstrating the accountability of the security forces. A third outcome of the
Enquiry is surely that it was a mechanism for trying to resolve grievances against
the State and contributing to the delivery of justice in Jamaica.