THE EDITOR, Madam:
IT WAS with a great sense of disappointment and regret that I read your editorial of Sunday May 21, 2000 and noted the erroneous statements which could only mislead the public, rather than paint a true picture.
Your editorial misled the public as follows:
The Constabulary Communi-cation Network (CCN) is not defined as the Public Relations arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force;
The Jamaica Constabulary Force Information Policy dictates that any Officer in charge of a Division or the senior Officer at the scene of a crime/accident/disaster, can speak to the media;
The role of the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) is to disseminate facts and not to legitimise police action.
It is against this background that journalists should endeavour to update themselves on the role and function of the Constabulary Communication Network.
Despite the shutdown of the Constabulary Communication Network office on Saturday May 13, 2000 to accommodate the funeral of Corporal Roland Layne, it was reopened ahead of the time scheduled, to facilitate the emergency situation, that is to say, the jailbreak that took place at the Remand Centre. On hearing of the jailbreak, two teams left Dovecot immediately, one to the Remand Centre and the other to the CCN Head Office.
To quote from the Editorial, "News as we understand it, is no respecter of status, high or low; and is obedient only to truth, accuracy, the legal limits of libel and the sensibilities of good taste."
It is heartening to know that there is awareness of these philosophies, but some persons spend little time to get facts, hence this demonstration of ignorance.
The death of Corporal Roland Layne was a serious blow to a newly formed and closely knitted family whose daily task is to facilitate the media fraternity.
Corporal Layne was executing that duty when he was brutally murdered.
The least anyone could ask for is that as a small family, we should show respect together along with his 24-year-old wife and five-year-old son.
This office will continue to serve, undaunted by its loss and with the highest level of professionalism.
I am, etc.,
JAMES A. FORBES
Executive Director
Jamaica Constabulary Force
Constabulary
Communication Network