‘We know our rights but ... ‘

A recent survey published by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), in collaboration with The Mico University College, has found that a high percentage of residents in at least 10 marginalised communities in Kingston have demonstrated knowledge of citizens’ rights, but also have misconceptions of those entitlements.

Findings of the survey which was published last week, showed that the awareness of citizens’ rights was consistent across communities, with youth age 16-24 leading in rights literacy.

The 2025 survey. dubbed Citizens’ Rights, Roles, Responsibilities and Practices, was conducted by Mico’s Institute of Technological and Educational Research.

A quantitative research survey was done with 305 respondents across urban communities targeting about 40 people per community.

Of the 305 respondents surveyed, 187 (or 61.3 per cent) demonstrated high awareness of citizens’ rights, followed by 96 (31.5 per cent), with moderate awareness, and 22 (7.2 per cent) with low awareness.

The study revealed that while there was high awareness among the persons interviewed, a lot of misconceptions also exist among respondents.

“For example, it is felt that a good job gives the individual more rights. “So they are equating economic success with the ability to avail yourself to human rights,” Sandra Grey-Alvaranga, project lead in the research, pointed out during a presentation at The Mico University College in Kingston.

She said another misconception among respondents was that the police can arbitrarily round up idle youth.

The survey was followed through with qualitative focus group discussions comprising 10 participants per group across the selected communities.

During the focus group discussion, one man said: “Right is a paper thing. It looks good on the document but it nuh real.”

Grey-Alvaranga said this sentiment echoed throughout the communities surveyed.

Other common misconceptions which came up were that many respondents mistakenly associate certain rights with employment status, political affiliation or social class.

“These misconceptions foster exclusion and undermine the universality of rights,” Grey-Alvaranga observed.

TRUST LEVELS

On the question of institutional trust, the government, the political system and the police recorded the highest proportions of ‘no trust’ responses contributing to the overall pattern of low trust levels, where low trust stood at 34.8 per cent, or 106 of the 305 respondents; moderate trust at 44.6 per cent, or 136 out of 305; and high trust at only 20.7 per cent, or 63 out of the 305 persons surveyed.

Institutional trust levels varied sharply across nine entities assessed. However, faith-based, justice-led and civil society institutions fared best.

The Church garnered the highest levels of ‘some, to high trust’ levels from 63.3 per cent of respondents, or 193 of the 305 respondents, followed by JFJ with 42 per cent, or 130 out of 305 persons, and the Independent Commission of Investigations with 39 per cent, or 119 of the 305 persons surveyed.

Disapproval of government performance was particularly stark, with 71.9 per cent respondents disagreeing that the government acts in the best interest of all Jamaicans, and 54.7 per cent who felt that government officials are not held accountable for their actions.

Insights on trust from the focus groups elicited responses such as: “Election time dem come with food and music; after dat, silence.” At the same time, the courts were seen as favouring the wealthy, with many expressing the view that justice is expensive. “If you nuh have money, you lose even if you are right,” was a sentiment that echoed across focus groups.

Grey-Alvaranga argued that trust in police was scarce across gender and age groups. Based on focus group discussions, she said the scarcity of trust in the police was shaped by experiences of harassment, indifference and corruption.

However, the project lead said it was heartening to hear during the discussions that “some police good - it’s just the system that is bad”.

For the communities that are heavily policed, Grey-Alvaranga said residents described life under continuous police surveillance. They say: “Living here feels like jail without bars. We unda watch every day. We nuh free. If you complain and dem know a you, you mark.”

A positive which emerged is that the residents were of the view that the local-level police in some of these communities were more trusted, but people had difficulty when cops from other areas come into their communities. The residents claim they are treated more harshly and viewed with suspicion because of preconceived notions.

The communities surveyed were Tivoli Gardens, Hannah Town, Mountain View, Waterhouse, Rose Town, Whitfield Town, McIntyre Villa (Dunkirk), Trench Town, August Town and DenhamTown.

edmond.cmpnell@gleanerjm.com