In fact, MacMillan's report acknowledges its predecessors, making reference, for example, to the National Security Strategy identification of the "rule of law at risk" manifested by the organised crime activities and public disorder. Referring to the 2001 crime study, MacMillan's task force called for the delinking of political parties from crime/criminals, also echoing a demand in the Emancipation Park Declaration of 2005. In fact, the completion of MacMillan's report comes near the anniversary of the Emancipation Park Declaration, made by private sector leaders on May 25 during a protest rally over spiralling murder, which totalled nearly 1,500 last year. So we have been there, done that!

Three of the participants in the recent exercise are 'repeat performers' namely, Colonel MacMillan, management consultant Dr. Henley Morgan and Shadow National Security Minister Derrick Smith, who all featured in the Peter Moses-led crime study of 2002. MacMillan's group also includes Professor Anthony Harriott, a criminologist based at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and who has extensive experience advising Government and the Jamaica Constabulary Force on crime matters. So, the report should not be weak in the area of relevance of its recommendations.

Apparently being conscious about producing a redundant document, the MacMillan committee has styled its anti-crime study as a 'Roadmap to a Safe and Secure Jamaica'.

In general the report repeats old themes of earlier documents: Cut the links between politics and crime; dismantle political garrisons; depoliticise the management of the Jamaica Constabulary Force; and end corruption. Specifically, the roadmap plots the path to:

Despite the multiplicity of anti-crime studies, one positive development seem to be appearing: Bi-partisan consensus on fighting this scourge. To a large extent this eluded former Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson and Opposition Leaders Edward Seaga and Bruce Golding. Perhaps it is the historical duty of Bruce and Portia to break down the political garrisons, which are the spawning grounds for violence and donmanship. Both leaders have walked the walk in terms of representing garrison communities; now together they must do the death dance for garrison-style communities.

In an initial response to the MacMillan report, Prime Minister Simpson Miller told Parliament last week that she had received the report and planned to make a full statement on national security later. She also announced during her Budget Debate presentation that her administration would spend significant resources on improving the justice system this year.

Regarding the troubling matter of corruption, MacMillan recommended among other things, the passage of "an effective" assets forfeiture act to include provisions for access to information on assets, seizure of criminally and corruptly-acquired assets that are put in the name of others.

This is one of several pieces of legislation - the Proceeds of Crime Act - that the Government promised business leaders last May to put on a fast track. Others include:

The committee reviewing the Proceeds of Crime Bill is to recommence sitting this month and is to be addressed by a British law enforcement official on that country's experience in enforcing its proceeds of crime legislation.

Like all the previous committees studying reports on solving crime, this one is faced with the reality that implemen-tation lies in the hands of the political directorate. The MacMillan committee noted that Government has chosen in the past to "cherrypick" recom-mendations of previous reports. Hence, the task force recom-mended that a small implemen-tation group be set up in the Office of the Prime Minister to ensure that the road-map is activated.

Perhaps committee members past and present should come together with existing NGOs, churches and rights groups to form a sustainable coalition to pressure the political directorate to act purposefully and swiftly to implement the 'Roadmap to a Safe and Secure Jamaica'.

Recommendations from MacMillan Task Force