We now have a new minister of national security. In fact, I felt some sympathy for him witnessing his swearing in as it appeared to be some sort of a kiss of death, when one considers that all previous ministers of national security have failed in resolving crime. What is it about this problem of crime that appears to be forever eluding us and preventing us with being provided with a relative safe and secure society in which to live and raise families and work?
Both political parties have failed miserably in this regard. The Ministry of National Security has had several bright, energetic ministers from respective administrations and we cannot point to one single one that has been successful in that portfolio. We have had several commissioners of police over the years: some of them being nothing but political hacks, some not too bright, but the majority have been well-qualified professionals. However, they too have failed. So what is it that we have not changed in our efforts to deal with crime?
It is my opinion that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been the one constant, the element or agent that has not changed to the point where too many Jamaicans have very little or no confidence in the ability of their police to deal with the crime problem. If we are looking at a force that is possibly corrupt and one in which the public has lost confidence, should we be investing large sums of money in it? Shouldn’t we reform or have them clean up their act before any further investment? It seems added legislation and technology is a waste of time and money if we don’t first fix the JCF. Let us have the courage to say out loud to this new Administration and minister that we will never have an effective JCF unless it is first established as a disciplined law enforcement body.
We cannot continue to speak behind closed doors of the JCF’s alleged corruption hoping that somehow with time it will fix itself. Give me a police force that is on bicycles, that has exercise books to log incidents, but is honest and respected, rather than one that drives the most modern vehicles, is equipped with body cameras and computers, but is corrupt and has lost the respect of most Jamaicans.
This new Government must take a stand. We need a police force that serves and protects all Jamaica. A police force we can trust. A police force that respects the lives of all Jamaicans.
Colonel Allan Douglas
Kingston 10
alldouglas@aol.com
Both political parties have failed miserably in this regard. The Ministry of National Security has had several bright, energetic ministers from respective administrations and we cannot point to one single one that has been successful in that portfolio. We have had several commissioners of police over the years: some of them being nothing but political hacks, some not too bright, but the majority have been well-qualified professionals. However, they too have failed. So what is it that we have not changed in our efforts to deal with crime?
It is my opinion that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been the one constant, the element or agent that has not changed to the point where too many Jamaicans have very little or no confidence in the ability of their police to deal with the crime problem. If we are looking at a force that is possibly corrupt and one in which the public has lost confidence, should we be investing large sums of money in it? Shouldn’t we reform or have them clean up their act before any further investment? It seems added legislation and technology is a waste of time and money if we don’t first fix the JCF. Let us have the courage to say out loud to this new Administration and minister that we will never have an effective JCF unless it is first established as a disciplined law enforcement body.
We cannot continue to speak behind closed doors of the JCF’s alleged corruption hoping that somehow with time it will fix itself. Give me a police force that is on bicycles, that has exercise books to log incidents, but is honest and respected, rather than one that drives the most modern vehicles, is equipped with body cameras and computers, but is corrupt and has lost the respect of most Jamaicans.
This new Government must take a stand. We need a police force that serves and protects all Jamaica. A police force we can trust. A police force that respects the lives of all Jamaicans.
Colonel Allan Douglas
Kingston 10
alldouglas@aol.com