Dear Editor,
The former People’s National Party Government wanted to establish an oversight body for the Independenet Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) which I thought, at that time, was useless and unnecessary. I still subscribe to the view. Since the appointment of Robert Montague as national security minister, he has stated that the work of INDECOM is very important and a memorandum of understanding will shortly be signed with the Jamaica Constabulary Force to develop a specific working protocol between both organisations so that a clear understanding will be had as to how the police should interact with INDECOM and their lawful instructions.
I cannot understand why it is that some police officers are failing to adhere to the instructions of INDECOM investigators and the failure of Police Commissioner Carl Williams to discipline police officers who refuse to follow the lawful instructions and requests of the commission. This should be forthwith addressed by the commissioner and any officer who fails to follow the instructions of INDECOM should be departmentally charged and fined by a properly constituted police panel of enquiry — for all officers have a lawful responsibility to at all times comply with any instruction given by INDECOM. There is no need for any oversight body to be established for INDECOM. Parliament is already the oversight body.
INDECOM has been performing professionally since its establishment by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, and the police’s fatal shooting rate has been greatly reduced over the past six years. INDECOM, especially chief Commissioner Terrence Williams, is to be congratulated for doing an excellent, outstanding and professional job.
Also, the corruption in the force must be dealt with. On two occasions recently, while traveling from Falmouth into Montego Bay, I was stopped by police officers who, after checking my documents, asked for a ‘pocket money’. On one occasion I was told that I had exceeded the speed limit by 20 km/hr and was asked for $3,000 for him not to write a ticket for speeding. I also parked on Harbour Street in Montego Bay last week Tuesday and went to transact some business at the bank and on returning to my vehicle I was informed that I was in a no-parking zone and the tow truck was ordered by the police to tow away my vehicle to the pound on Belvin Avenue, and instructed to pay $9,000 for the wrecking fee and was also ticketed with a fine to be paid of $8,000.
My vehicle was towed from Harbour Street in Montego Bay to Belvin Avenue at the Transport Authority pound, less than a quarter mile, yet the tow truck fee was $9,000? Is this right? Add the fine and I had to pay a cumulative total of $17,000!
Why wasn’t I just ticketed by the police for the offence and allowed to pay the fine at the tax collectorate? There was absolutely no need to tow away my vehicle when I was on spot at the time after returning to my vehicle. Is this right? I believe it is wrong and inconsistent with the law. It amounts to police corruption.
Minister Montague must look into this unacceptable state of affairs. Jamaica needs a corruption-free, professional and honest police force urgently.
Ramesh Ogilvie
Falmouth PO, Trelawny
rameshRameshOgilvieramesh@outlook.com
The former People’s National Party Government wanted to establish an oversight body for the Independenet Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) which I thought, at that time, was useless and unnecessary. I still subscribe to the view. Since the appointment of Robert Montague as national security minister, he has stated that the work of INDECOM is very important and a memorandum of understanding will shortly be signed with the Jamaica Constabulary Force to develop a specific working protocol between both organisations so that a clear understanding will be had as to how the police should interact with INDECOM and their lawful instructions.
I cannot understand why it is that some police officers are failing to adhere to the instructions of INDECOM investigators and the failure of Police Commissioner Carl Williams to discipline police officers who refuse to follow the lawful instructions and requests of the commission. This should be forthwith addressed by the commissioner and any officer who fails to follow the instructions of INDECOM should be departmentally charged and fined by a properly constituted police panel of enquiry — for all officers have a lawful responsibility to at all times comply with any instruction given by INDECOM. There is no need for any oversight body to be established for INDECOM. Parliament is already the oversight body.
INDECOM has been performing professionally since its establishment by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, and the police’s fatal shooting rate has been greatly reduced over the past six years. INDECOM, especially chief Commissioner Terrence Williams, is to be congratulated for doing an excellent, outstanding and professional job.
Also, the corruption in the force must be dealt with. On two occasions recently, while traveling from Falmouth into Montego Bay, I was stopped by police officers who, after checking my documents, asked for a ‘pocket money’. On one occasion I was told that I had exceeded the speed limit by 20 km/hr and was asked for $3,000 for him not to write a ticket for speeding. I also parked on Harbour Street in Montego Bay last week Tuesday and went to transact some business at the bank and on returning to my vehicle I was informed that I was in a no-parking zone and the tow truck was ordered by the police to tow away my vehicle to the pound on Belvin Avenue, and instructed to pay $9,000 for the wrecking fee and was also ticketed with a fine to be paid of $8,000.
My vehicle was towed from Harbour Street in Montego Bay to Belvin Avenue at the Transport Authority pound, less than a quarter mile, yet the tow truck fee was $9,000? Is this right? Add the fine and I had to pay a cumulative total of $17,000!
Why wasn’t I just ticketed by the police for the offence and allowed to pay the fine at the tax collectorate? There was absolutely no need to tow away my vehicle when I was on spot at the time after returning to my vehicle. Is this right? I believe it is wrong and inconsistent with the law. It amounts to police corruption.
Minister Montague must look into this unacceptable state of affairs. Jamaica needs a corruption-free, professional and honest police force urgently.
Ramesh Ogilvie
Falmouth PO, Trelawny
rameshRameshOgilvieramesh@outlook.com