THE EDITOR, Sir:
IN A country the size of Jamaica one questions the need for two distinct maritime forces, Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard and the Marine Police. Not only does this contribute to mediocre harmonisation of duties and the lack of adequate financing for operations, it helps to create a climate of unnecessary rivalry - Coast Guards versus Marine Police.
Given the high level of drug trafficking that is taking place in our territorial water, immediate steps must be taken to co-ordinate the operations of the Marine Police and Coast Guard by merging these two entities into one unit under one command - National Naval Service.
The National Naval Service would become a division of the Jamaica Defence Force because protecting our territorial waters/borders from foreign aggression (that's what international drug trafficking is) is the duty of our military. A better-equipped and effectively trained Jamaica Constabulary Force should reclaim its duty of protecting the citizenry against internal hostility.
I am etc.,
MICHAEL BROWN
miguelbro@yahoo.com
Washington, DC
USA
Via Go-Jamaica
