JFJ says it will not be 'intimidated' after Chang’s 'blood money' remark

Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) says it will not be “slandered or intimidated” and is seeking legal advice after National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang accused it of “living off blood money” during a radio interview on Monday.

“We find the framing of our work as ‘living off blood money’ both unfortunate, untrue and inflammatory. Such language does little to advance constructive dialogue on public safety and accountability,” the human rights group said in a statement on Monday.

It added: “We will not be slandered or intimidated out of fulfilling our role as a civil society organisation dedicated to upholding human rights and lawful policing. ”

Chang, who is also deputy prime minister, made the comment during an interview on Nationwide News Network.

Referring to critics of the police, including JFJ, he said: “When the police apprehending the murderers… if one get shot, ‘the police is a murderer’. That kind of discussion must be discontinued.”

Continuing, he said: “I have to raise it because it is young Jamaicans, bright, committed to justice and right, whose commitment to fair play is being questioned. And they will have the strength and the training to withstand it. When their families start being alluded to in public spaces, it becomes a problem. The people in Jamaicans for Justice and other areas must stop this. They are living off blood money.”

In response, JFJ said it was considering its legal options even as it asserted that it “will continue to discharge our duties without fear or favour”.

“In light of the defamatory nature of the ‘blood money’ accusation and its potential consequences, JFJ is currently seeking legal advice on the matter and any possible actions that may be warranted,” the statement said.

Addressing the funding issue raised in the “blood money” comment, the group said it receives grants from international development agencies.

“It is worth noting that JFJ receives funding through mechanisms similar to those supporting state institutions—primarily grants from international development agencies. We therefore ask: by the same logic, is the Government also ‘profiting from blood money’ through its own operations and funding? Such rhetorical framing is neither accurate nor helpful,” it said.

The latest clash unfolds against a backdrop of sustained disagreement over police accountability, particularly the use of body-worn cameras during Planned Police Operations.

JFJ said its advocacy is grounded in official data and established oversight mechanisms.

“Our public releases and positions are grounded in verifiable data drawn directly from official sources, including reports from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), the Ministry of National Security and Peace, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and court records, as well as information provided by complainants,” the group stated.

It added: “We make no assertions beyond what these authoritative sources and processes indicate.”

The organisation rejected suggestions that it broadly characterises police killings as unlawful.

“In our critique, we do not broad-brush police killings as extrajudicial; rather, we highlight documented patterns, recurring complaints, and specific incidents - such as the fatal shootings of Jahmar Farquharson, Romario Sterling, and Terron Hewitt—that warrant greater scrutiny,” JFJ said.

The group also pointed to its engagement with members of the force.

“Far from opposing the police, as intimated by Dr Chang, JFJ actively supports professional policing and improved police-citizen relations,” it said, noting that in 2024 and 2025 combined it trained over 300 police officers in human rights and related areas and hosted two citizens-police town halls in Kingston last year.

“The suggestion that we do not support the police is therefore unfounded. A broadside of this nature by the Minister unnecessarily pits officers against a civil society organisation dedicated to shared goals of safety and justice, which is not conducive to national progress,” the statement continued.

JFJ stated that as Chang is deputy prime minister and security minister, “a great deal is expected… in terms of leadership, measured discourse, and fostering an environment where accountability and security reinforce each other—not clash.”

In April 2025, JFJ raised safety concerns after Sergeant Arleen McBean, head of the Jamaica Police Federation suggested that JFJ would be a “true terrorist” if it did not support the police in a JFJ-led protest that month to demanding greater police accountability.

And in February 2025, Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake rejected the group’s criticisms over fatal police shootings, arguing that its calls were “wrongly directed”. He urged JFJ to demonstrate that its concern was “more for the well-being of our citizens and less for the relevance of your organisation.”

The Independent Commission of Investigations has raised concerns about the number of fatal shootings of civilians by members of the security forces.

In 2025, Jamaica's murder toll fell by 41 per cent, a three-decade low. However, the number of security force-related fatalities for 2025 was 311, representing a 65 per cent increase over 2024.

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