Greenwich Farm mom wants justice - Son detained for three months, could miss the birth of first child

A mother is infuriated by what she terms the unfair targeting of her son by the security forces. According to Nadine, her son Kareem Palmer has been locked up under the state of emergency for almost 90 days. She said that he was locked up a few weeks after his father was gunned down in Greenwich Farm.

"Not even di funeral him couldn't get fi attend or nothing, and all now dem nuh release him. Dem have him fi 90 days and me still no know if him a go be released," the mother said.

In addition to missing his father's funeral, Nadine is fearful that her son could miss the birth of his first child as his girlfriend is eight months pregnant.

The frustrated mother told THE STAR that her son was targeted simply because his father was an influential community member.

"Dem come pick him up right outa him bed one Sunday morning. Dem seh dem fraid a retaliation from him because a di death a di father. So dem fraid him retaliate and cause violence inna di area," the mother said.

But she inists that her 25-year-old son is not involved in any such activity.

"Him neva been charged before but dem always a come and a seh dem hear seh him do dis and that. If a man go deh suh go do something, dem come tek him outa him bed. Dem nah look fi who a do tings!" said Nadine.

"Dem always in a problem wid him. Sometimes I can swear for him because him lie dung inna him bed. Nuff time me seh me nah wake da likkle boy here enuh, cause a him police a go come tek set pon. And believe you me, a suh it go, dem a come. Saturday a come mek 90 days."

Under the Emergency Powers Act, a person detained for seven days may be detained for a further seven days on the instruction of a deputy superintendent of police or a higher ranking officer.

However, this period may be extended until the end of the state of emergency if the national security minister grants a detention order.

A state of emergency was declared in the South St Andrew Police Division, where Greenwich Farm falls, on July 7, due to "a high level of violent crimes." Palmer was detained that very day.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the extension of the state of public emergency in the South St Andrew Police Division until January 4, 2020.