Commentary

The power of popularity

APPARENTLY WHAT GOES for the goose does not go for the gander if you are a popular deejay like Adidja 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer.

Yet, a person's status can only shield him from the long arm of the law for so long.

Police officers who gave Kartel a firearm licence may certainly be getting the heat for it. Kartel was questioned for two murders in Portmore, St. Catherine, between 1998 and last year and charged with the illegal possession of ammunition, as well as assault occasioning grevious bodily harm for the fracas which occurred at Sting last month.

However, the mere fact that he gave a Washington Gardens address as his home, even though everyone knows he is from Portmore, has raised quite a number of questions and these need to be an-swered fast.

Perhaps police officers bend rules for high profile figures in society out of sheer admiration or, sad to say, profit. Another reason could be another police oversight caused by lack of thorough investigation.

Either way, embarrassed chief police officials are out for blood to clean up yet another mess.

With all the alleged police killings and harassment occurring daily, this puts another blot on the record of the nation's police force at large.