From left, Hinds, Smith, Gomes and Stewart.
Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter
The year 2007 came and went, taking with it 1,571 persons. This figure has secured Jamaica's position among the countries with the highest crime rate in the world.
However, 2008 presents a new beginning for the country. Based on the murder figures for the first four days of the year, there is a slight decrease as nine persons have been killed, when compared to 13 for the first three days of 2007.
Six days into the New Year, one of the recurring themes coming out of the public, private and religious sectors is the hope that crime will be reduced.
Minister of National Security Derrick Smith has already assured the nation that the battle against crime will be intensified.
Aside from his pronouncements, expectations will be high as in the lead-up to the general election, the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) promised several things which they believed would improve security.
Chief among these is the establishment of a national independent investigation authority to probe allegations of police abuse. According to reports from the Government, consultations for this body have been done and the legislation is currently being drafted.
Another of the JLP's promises was to establish a traffic corps, comprising civilians, to relieve police of traffic duties and enable them to focus on law enforcement. Whether these promises will be fulfilled this year remains to be seen.
Gun still weapon of choice
Organised crime and drug-running was a problem in 2007. With the gun still being the weapon of choice in the majority of homicides in 2007, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Glenmore Hinds, head of the elite crime-fighting unit, Operation Kingfish, says his team will be intensifying its efforts in the interdiction of these weapons.
"One of Operation Kingfish's mandates is to dismantle major criminal network operations in Jamaica and our mandate is also to stem the flow of illegal weapons in the island. Our work against major criminal networks is in fact a continuing work," he tells The Sunday Gleaner.
ACP Hinds adds that Operation Kingfish would be seeking to stem the supply of guns in all areas of criminality. One such area, he says, will be the gun-for-drug trade between Haiti and Jamaica.
"Last year, I think we were very successful in seizing illegal drugs destined for Haiti and we had a successful campaign in eradicating ganja, and we will continue to impact trade at the source and that is in the fields," he states.
According to ACP Hinds, in the future, Operation Kingfish would be working with the Ministry of Agriculture to help individuals who are found cultivating ganja.
"We will be working with the Ministry of Agriculture in introducing crop substitution, so when we destroy these ganja fields, persons who are willing to use other crops will be provided with seedlings and fertilizers," he explains.
ACP Hinds also revealed that in the future, his organisation would be seeking to utilise more the Proceeds of Crime Act, which gives the State authority to forfeit property and confiscate proceeds obtained through drug trafficking and money laundering.
Police await 40-hour work week
On the police front, the rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) are looking forward to the implementation of a 40-hour work week for its members.
"The 40-hour-work week has been pursued for decades and we hope it will come to fruition during 2008. It will bring benefits to the health and safety of our members as they will be rested and less stressed," General Secretary of the Jamaica Police Federation Corporal Hartley Stewart," says.
He tells The Sunday Gleaner that the police are also looking forward to the speedy conclusion of wage negotiations and an improvement in relations between the federation and the Government. He also hopes that the fight against corruption in the JCF will acquire more teeth in an effort to transform the force.
Alleged police abuse has been a thorny issue. Last year, over 260 Jamaicans were killed in confrontations with the police, with some of these cases being labelled as alleged police brutality. Chairman of human rights group Jamaicans For Justice, Dr. Carolyn Gomes, is hoping that this will decrease.
In this regard, she wants the National Independent Investigative Authority, by the Government, to become a reality. It is also her wish that the reform of the justice system be completed, which would see a reduction in the backlog of cases in the Coroner's Court.
