Introduction – When Parliament Meet the People
So mi deh deh pon di ends Saturday night, scrolling mi phone, and boom — mi see Senator Donna Scott Mottley pon di Loop live. She deh Clarendon, mic inna hand, di crowd tuned in like Sound Fest.
And mi a tell yuh straight: it neva sound like no regular political speech.
It sound like one elder defending di yard from Babylon. Like somebody finally seh, "Nah man, wi haffi draw di line yah now."
Fi real — Senator Scott Mottley didn’t just drop big grammar or parliamentary protocol. She spoke truth inna plain patois when she told the crowd straight: "Wi nuh idiot. And wi nah mek dem use SOE fi lock down wi rights."
So mi decide fi break down what really gwaan — from di Constitution concerns to what it mean fi average Jamaicans like me an' yuh.
What It Is – The Controversy Around the SOE
The core of Scott Mottley’s speech centered around one heated issue: the use of the States of Emergency (SOE) by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
In recent months, PM Andrew Holness and the security forces have leaned hard on SOEs to tackle violence in areas like Clarendon, St. James, and parts of Kingston. SOEs allow police to detain citizens without charge, restrict movement, and increase surveillance — all in the name of national security.
But Senator Scott Mottley nuh buy it. She argue say SOEs are becoming the government’s crutch — bypassing justice reform and suppressing citizens’ rights in di name of order.
She put it clear:
“The Constitution is not a suggestion. It is the law. And the law must apply to everybody — PNP, JLP, uptown, bush, garrison, all a wi.”
Powerful words. And wi need fi unpack di bigger context behind dem.
Local Context & Quotes – Di Streets Speak Too
Talk to anybody in Clarendon, Spanish Town, or even Montego Bay, and yuh will hear real concerns. Di gun violence real. Di fear real. But also real? The fear of getting picked up for “looking suspicious.”
Trevor, a 23-year-old from May Pen, tell mi last week:
“Mi a walk go buy dumpling an mi get search three times. Dem seh is SOE. But mi nuh see no real criminal get hold yet.”
Mi link mi cousin Rena in Old Harbour who seh she fraid fi let her teenage son even go fi evening walk:
“Dem seh SOE fi wi safety. But mi son cya even cross road without soldier ask him weh him deh go. That nuh feel like freedom.”
Scott Mottley tapped into dat frustration when she seh:
“Yuh cya fix di system by abusing di people it designed to protect.”
And a whole heap a people clap and shout, “Talk truth, Mama Donna!”
Cultural Impact – When Rights Feel Like a Luxury
Jamaica nuh have one culture. Wi have many. From Rastafari to Revival, uptown techies to downtown hustlers — but one ting wi all treasure: freedom of movement, speech, and being able to defend wi name if accused.
States of Emergency, when used loosely, mash up dat trust.
Imagine being detained without charge, losing your job because yuh locked up for 3 days with no phone call. Or worse, yuh youth get branded as “gunman” in di streets cause him wear hoodies and chain.
Concerns & Debate – Security vs. Rights: The Real Clash
Now hear mi good: nobody seh crime nuh need to get tackle. We can’t ignore that 2024 saw over 1,300 murders, many gang-related.
But wi affi ask: Should emergency powers be di norm in non-emergency times?
Scott Mottley believes the Holness administration a use SOE like Scotch tape — quick fix, but nuh address di cracks.
She ask in her speech:
“Where are the crime plans? Where is community policing? Where is the investment in youth and conflict resolution?”
And she not alone. Legal minds from UWI’s Faculty of Law, the Jamaican Bar Association, and even past security ministers from both parties have called out the overuse of SOEs.
“The SOE is a legitimate tool… used responsibly to save lives in volatile communities.”
So yeah, it’s a hot topic. But whether you red or green, the country tired of cycles without solutions.
Conclusion – “We Nah Give Up Wi Rights Fi Vote”
Donna Scott Mottley’s speech in Clarendon might be remembered not just for what she said, but how she say it.
She reminded wi seh Constitution nuh belong to politicians. It belong to people. And if wi give up piece by piece, one day wi wake up with none left.
So mi haffi echo di call she mek pon di mic:
“Stand up. Ask questions. Know yuh rights. And vote fi people who respect law — not twist it.”
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