If We Do Not, Who Will? - DS

It is CRITICAL to ensure that the Jamaica Constabulary force (JCF) brand is on par with the police force in first world countries and not ranked among those in the banana republic.

Therefore, we must think ‘outside the box’ to ensure:

1. There is a system of checks and balances and accountability within the JCF
2. The police force attracts persons that are balanced and of good character and judgment.
3. The periodic and systematic removal of criminals from the police force.
4. Strip the police of all duties that are not related to policing such as laboratory work at the forensic laboratory and the STORAGE and  SAFEKEEPING of DNA samples.  The duty of the police force is to police.

There has to be a paradigm shift in the operations relating to National Security to create hope in the future. We cannot continue to make policies which reflect the joy we have knowing that our daughters, sons, nieces and nephews have ten year visas, green cards and citizenship in another country. We must make policies that reflect our desire to have them live, work, raise their families and do business right here in Jamaica.

The members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force must appreciate that the Minister of National Security, The Honourable Robert Montaque,and not the Chairman of the Police Federation, Sergeant Raymond Wilson, is responsible for the drafting of POLICIES on National Security to which the members of the JCF are obliged to implement.

Therefore, I have recommended the following actions:

1. Strengthen the office of the Independent Commission of Investigations   (INDECOM)
2. Every employee of INDECOM member must undergo a lie detector test to ensure that the   integrity of INDECOM is maintained. 
3. Every employee of INDECOM must disclose the names of their relatives and close friends who are police officers to the INDECOM Commissioner
4. The INDECOM investigators must not be trained with police officers at the same institution. They must receive special training elsewhere.
5. Review the Jamaica Constabulary Force Act to ensure the laws are modern and compares favourably to those in First World Countries and do not promote the ‘legobeast’ actions among police officers.
6. INDECOM has too many numbers. Assign one number to INDECOM to cover the entire country that is advertised and easily remembered
7. Place the JCF call centre under the mantle of INDECOM or a private firm like that in the United States so as to monitor how many of these calls to 119 and 911 the police actually respond to. Special numbers such as those of Crime Stop can remain the responsibility of the police
8. The Jamaica Constabulary Force ambulance service must be placed under the authority of INDECOM or a private firm like the Para Medics ambulance service in the United States. to ensure that the bodies of persons who have been killed or injured by the police are not touched or removed from the scene by the police
9. Place the forensic laboratory service under the authority of INDECOM. At no time should there be any interaction between the INDECOM officers and the police
10. The DNA of convicted criminals must be placed under the mantle of INDECOM.
11. Put to an end the wearing of masK by the Police officers to conceal their identity. Even in Afghanistan and Iraq this is left to the Taliban. In the Gaza region, this is left to Hamas. I cannot imagine this happening in other Caribbean countries, probably in Haiti neither can I imagine this happening in Jamaica under British rule and it still does not happen in the British territories In cases of special operation, police officers that are not known by the community can be drawn from other areas but they must be properly identified by the visibility of their faces and their badge numbers.
12. The use of excessive force by the police must be adequately and satisfactorily explained. If this is not done then the police officer must be removed from the JCF.  I cannot grasp the reason for the use of excessive force in a tiny room to restrain someone.  Such unwarranted and unnecessary use of force should breach Force orders.
13. Police officers must appreciate that the JCF is under no obligation to keep them employed until they retire or choose to leave the organization but must systematically remove corrupt cops for the development of the country as a place to live, work, raise families and do business.
14. Police officers who disobey the force orders and wear wind breakers and other overcoats to conceal their badge numbers  must be removed from the force
15. Since the passing into law of the Suppressions of Crime Act (1974), the JCF has been kicking off the doors of Jamaican citizens which were not permissible under British rule. This, however, has not reduced crime as crime has increased by leaps and bounds over the years.

We must strategically apprehend suspects that are located within dwellings. I recommend the following:

1. Strategically position police officers around the occupied building
2. Communicate to the suspect via loud speakers to leave the building with their hands over their heads similarly to First World countries that value life.
3. Have the exit of the suspect recorded on the CCTV surveillance cameras of the police officers which are placed on the roof of their vehicles, similarly to those in First World countries
4. If the suspect refuses to exit the building ,then, place 'tear gas' canisters in the building to force his exit from the building
5. The picking up of suspects at all hours of the night cannot continue if we are serious about the integrity and the brand of the JCF when it is quite clear that the reputation of the JCF brand can affect the chance of a police officer being deployed to other Caribbean countries without the need for retraining and re-socialization.

Over the years, there have been cosmetic changes to the Suppressions of Crimes Act since 1974 but this did not stop the police from kicking off the doors of Keith Clarke in Kirkland Heights or the dirty tear up trousers barefoot man in Trench Town and neither do these changes guarantee that the door of Digicel’s, CEO Barry O’Brien, Sandals’, CEO Gordon “Butch” Stewart or the current National Security Minister, the Hon. Robert Montaque will not be kicked off when he retires from political representation or they may be beaten by the police like former PNP representative Mr. Jeffrey V Ford.

We must return to the time when one’s home was a sacred place. Currently, this is the thinking in First World countries and those countries that are still under British rule.  Rogue cops with an insatiable appetite for blood will always create a mountain from a mole hill to prevent changes that reflect respect for human life

Yours truly

Press Statement From The JDF - Western Kingston Commission of Enquiry 2016.

19 June 2016

PRESS STATEMENT

COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY REPORT

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has conducted a preliminary review of the Report of the Commissioners of the Western Kingston Commission of Enquiry 2016.  We wish to thank the Commissioners for what we believe is a comprehensive report that outlines to a large extent the historical account of what transpired leading up to, and during, the joint police-military operation in May 2010.  We urge all Jamaicans to take the time to read the full report or at least the key findings highlighted in each chapter, in order to fully appreciate the circumstances of 2010. The Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, convened a special meeting of the Defence Board on July 17, 2016 to discuss the findings and recommendations of the report, in particular those matters related to the JDF, in order to determine the way forward.

The JDF supports the recommendation for further investigations with respect to the allegations against members of the Force regarding actions which are inconsistent with the standards of conduct expected of members of the Jamaica Defence Force. The findings and recommendations with respect to the use of mortars are under review. The Commissioners also made several recommendations regarding the procedures governing internal security operations, which will inform our ongoing deliberations.

The JDF continues to collaborate with the Jamaica Constabulary Force as we confront the current threats to our collective security and remains committed to our mandate of defending and securing our nation and all of our citizens.

A Fi Wi Concern 20160424 - Michael Spence

That Explosive Material

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) says a team of soldiers and police personnel discovered a tube of C4 plastic explosive and a home-made shotgun during an operation in the gritty community of Trench Town, Kingston and not Tivoli. Did they really find C4,C-4 or 4C , can we trust this news this time or is another duppy show piece? Anyway, police, army don’t be daunted just do your work. This is a serious find if it really is and needs deeper investigation because regular criminals do not need C4, if so for what purpose and more importantly the target? A pound of C4 can blow open a cheaper metal safe, a hole in a concrete wall or blow off a metal door. C-4 is a very powerful military explosive with a detonation rate of over 8,000 meters/sec Where did it come from/who made it and what was the weight of the find? 22/04/16

Minister Ruel Reid

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid, is appealing to parents not to choose entertainment over the care and protection of their children.Hope those who put hair, nails, clothes, rum, ganja and dancehall first read this or go learn to read if they cannot read this. 22/04/16

Venezuela A Economic Challenges

Recession-hit Venezuela will turn off the electricity supply in its 10 most populous states for four hours a day for 40 days to deal with a severe power shortage, the government said Thursday.These socialist experiments in side of capitalism seem to have negative impacts many years later. I wish the Venezuelan people will soon get it right in fact they are our friends and willing to help where we can. Do you know that Simon Bolivar lived at a house now a Chinese clothing wholesale at the corner of Princess and Tower Street going towards the sea on the right. This house should have been preserved under the heritage trust its demolition was a mistake. I had nothing to do with that but I apologize to the Venezuelan and Jamaican people.22/04/16

Abuse of Children

What, so many as 900 children sexually abused in Trinidad, is there a Caricom registry? Thought Trinidad was a society free of crime and immorality so to maintain their purification Jamaicans not allowed so they sending them home as they arrive. All the best Trinidad and your exclusive bad minded bacchanal immigration policies.

Treat the youths right
Instead of putting up a fight
Treat the youths right
Or you'll been playin' with dynamite

When you go and look for a job
There is someone givin' you a fight
Like they want you to go and rob
and we know that that's not right

Lyrics from a song penned by Jimmy Cliff should become the Caricom anthem. 22/04/16

 SSP Steve McGregor

A“directive from Senior Superintendent of Police Steve McGregor to implement a 9 p.m. curfew for students in St James". This seems to be mild collective punishment for now, net fishing and a demonstration of shortcut policing. So why not just install some Dons who seem to have a good idea how to police things and embrace fully positive criminality like what happens many times in Kingston. The challenge is Kingston and St James is different places and types of people. .So what is the penalty for being on the road one minute after 9:00pm.By the way who is in charge of national security Superintendent of Police Steve McGregor or Minister Montague. My advice to McGregor is to get the advice and support from experienced sociologists like Dr Harriot with experience in criminology as you are dealing with people not all criminals and I would not like to see a bad situation made worse.22/04/16

Michael spence

Venezuelan Fishermen Rescued By US and and JM Coast Guards

Six Venezuelan fishermen were yesterday rescued and brought to land by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), after their fishing vessel sank about 250 nautical miles south east of Jamaica’s mainland.

According to Major Basil Jarrett, Civil Military Cooperation and Media Affairs Officer for the JDF, the fishermen, who had sailed from Venezuela since early April, were discovered by the United States Coast Guard who saw them in distress just south of Haiti. The men were recovered from the sinking vessel by the USCG who then notified the JDF Coast Guard and requested that they be received and handed over to the Venezuelan embassy.

The six men were picked up by the JDF Coast Guard and brought ashore at the JDF Coast Guard Headquarters in Port Royal. They were received by representatives of the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Immigration Officers, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Venezuelan Embassy. The men were then processed and screened before being released to the patronage of the Venezuelan embassy.

The six foreigners were grateful to both the JDF and the United States Coast Guards for saving their lives and expressed relief to be safe and back on land.

The JDF Coast Guard is the maritime arm of the Jamaica Defence Force and has primary responsibility for search and rescue operations at sea. Jamaica is a signatory to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (1979) which stipulates that, parties to the convention “shall ensure that assistance be provided to any person in distress at sea.”