The Editor, Sir:
Congratulations to the Police Services Commission for its proposals to have officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force justify their suitability for positions to which they will be promoted. This in my humble opinion is about accountability, which seldom appears in the vocabulary of most public officials.
I heard acting Assistant Commissioner Rose being interviewed on "Beyond the headlines" and I was embarrassed for him and the Jamaica Constabulary Force. His reference to the function of the Police Services Commission as that of a rubber stamp is an insult to those persons who make up that body.
Thankfully, the "rubber stamps" have seen the need to change the manner in which it affixes its approval to matters involving members of that organisation, as the system appears to be seriously flawed.
Open secret
It is an open secret that there are officers in the Jamaica Constabulary Force who are promoted beyond their competence and vice-versa. Since the members of the Police Services Commission are persons of integrity, the time has come to address past mistakes.
Assistant Commissioner Rose's lament about the disparity in emoluments being paid to Deputy Commissioner Shields should have been addressed a year ago. For Mr. Rose to have waited until he is about to leave the force to start this huge controversy is not only cowardly but unethical.
His assurance that the officers' performance will inspire when the disparity is addressed presents a moral dilemma. He should have thought about what he wanted to convey to listeners before making the comment.
I am, etc.,
CYNTHIA
LAWRENCE-JENNINGS
P.O. Box 2114
Kingston 8
