Letters

The Editor, Sir:

Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington has suggested to the nation that "police intelligence" was used to capture Christopher Coke.

The writer of a letter to the editor asked: "Is it possible that the commissioner of police is trying to 'pretty up' his CV [curriculum vitae] with all this boring talk about intelligence leading to Mr Coke's being caught?"

In addition, I would ask: Is it possible that the commissioner knows that the reaction of the lawmen at the checkpoint was one of surprised inquiry, "A nuh you name Mr Coke?", then to Al Miller, "Whoa, you a di big man?" suggesting lack of intelligence gathering by the forces who are now seeking to take credit for orchestrating Coke's capture? If "intelligence" resulted in Coke's travels being monitored from St Ann, why then was it that the smart police were scheduled to intercept Coke on the speedy Mandela Highway, long after he would have left St Ann? Why Mandela, sir?

Come clean

The commissioner should stop the posturing and come clean to the nation with what he knows. If it is that the cops did not relate properly to the circumstances, then Mr Ellington should not suggest that intelligence was behind the capture when he does not know. We are not a bunch of idiots and in all honesty, we know the negotiating in-competence and brutality of the police force, which is why they were incapable of hastening Coke's extradition prior to the intervention of Al Miller.

The only credit which should be given to the police is for not succumbing to the dollars of some individuals who may have wanted Coke silenced, and this is no badge of honour at all. Perhaps the commissioner should be guided by knowledge that the truth has a way of coming out, and when it is revealed that mere coincidence resulted in Coke's encounter with local lawmen, Owen Ellington, the man entrusted with rebranding a police force notorious for dishonesty and corruption, should resign.

I am, etc.,

IAN VIRGO

ian.virgo@yahoo.com