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PM rules out police, JDF merger
Observer Reporter
Thursday, September 22, 2005
These children of staff at the Jamaica Defence Force's Accounts Department were anxious to be photographed with Prime Minister P J Patterson during his visit to the army headquarters in Kingston yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Prime Minister P J Patterson yesterday ruled out a merger between the army and the police, a suggestion that arises periodically as Jamaica struggles for solutions to its serious problem of crime.
The idea has been floated most recently by senior banker, Bill Clarke, and has, more than once, been placed on the agenda by the shadow security minister, Derrick Smith.
But during an informal tour of Up Park Camp, the Kingston headquarters of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Patterson stressed that this was not an option for his administration.
"I do not contemplate that we will be going any route that will see a merger between the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force," said the prime minister in a short address to soldiers and Coast Guard members.
Patterson, who is also the minister of defence, did not elaborate on the issue, but the prime minister's remarks were consistent with past policy positions of his administration.
It would also have been in line with the thinking of the JDF's chief of staff, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, who has made more than one public statement supporting co-operation between the institutions while maintaining them as separate entities.
Proponents of a merger argue that Jamaica's 10,000-member constabulary is, per capita, smaller than other police forces in the Caribbean.
Merging it with the JDF would not only bring an additional 3,000 trained personnel, but an educated and highly-trained officer corps - an area in which the police force has lagged.
Lewin did comment on Patterson's very brief remarks yesterday, but he has, in the past, argued that the JDF and the police offer different disciplines that are better preserved separately.
In yesterday's remarks, Patterson also promised soldiers that their interest would be protected in any wage negotiations between the JDF and government, notwithstanding the agreement between the government and trade unions that froze the salary of public sector employees.
"Even with the existence of the MOU (memorandum of understanding) between the government and trade unions, the interest of the JDF will not be forgotten and you will be properly protected," Patterson said.
The government last week offered its employees a bump up of between $400 and $600 weekly, until next March to partially compensate for higher-than-projected inflation under the MOU, but it was not immediately clear whether soldiers benefited.
Patterson also disclosed plans to upgrade run-down Up Park Camp barracks, as well as build units under a scheme with the National Housing Trust.
"There is a partnership to get the approval of the National Housing Trust to make a sum available to build 300 units to house 1,200 soldiers," the prime minister said. "Some of the barracks will be destroyed and be replaced by modern buildings."
A facility to house soldiers in Montego Bay, on the island's northwest shore, will be completed by yearend, the prime minister said.
Last week, a new US$19-million vessel arrived from a Dutch shipyard for the Coast Guard and Patterson reminded that two more will arrive by the first quarter of next year.
Only the ignorant or those who would like a military take over as happens in every country with a uniraet security force,or having a foreign country impose a government on the country a la Haiti would propose any such merger.
The onlt deterrent to the takever of country by an armed force,is the potential of being opposed ny another armed force,along with armed citizens.
Observer Reporter
Thursday, September 22, 2005
These children of staff at the Jamaica Defence Force's Accounts Department were anxious to be photographed with Prime Minister P J Patterson during his visit to the army headquarters in Kingston yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
Prime Minister P J Patterson yesterday ruled out a merger between the army and the police, a suggestion that arises periodically as Jamaica struggles for solutions to its serious problem of crime.
The idea has been floated most recently by senior banker, Bill Clarke, and has, more than once, been placed on the agenda by the shadow security minister, Derrick Smith.
But during an informal tour of Up Park Camp, the Kingston headquarters of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Patterson stressed that this was not an option for his administration.
"I do not contemplate that we will be going any route that will see a merger between the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force," said the prime minister in a short address to soldiers and Coast Guard members.
Patterson, who is also the minister of defence, did not elaborate on the issue, but the prime minister's remarks were consistent with past policy positions of his administration.
It would also have been in line with the thinking of the JDF's chief of staff, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, who has made more than one public statement supporting co-operation between the institutions while maintaining them as separate entities.
Proponents of a merger argue that Jamaica's 10,000-member constabulary is, per capita, smaller than other police forces in the Caribbean.
Merging it with the JDF would not only bring an additional 3,000 trained personnel, but an educated and highly-trained officer corps - an area in which the police force has lagged.
Lewin did comment on Patterson's very brief remarks yesterday, but he has, in the past, argued that the JDF and the police offer different disciplines that are better preserved separately.
In yesterday's remarks, Patterson also promised soldiers that their interest would be protected in any wage negotiations between the JDF and government, notwithstanding the agreement between the government and trade unions that froze the salary of public sector employees.
"Even with the existence of the MOU (memorandum of understanding) between the government and trade unions, the interest of the JDF will not be forgotten and you will be properly protected," Patterson said.
The government last week offered its employees a bump up of between $400 and $600 weekly, until next March to partially compensate for higher-than-projected inflation under the MOU, but it was not immediately clear whether soldiers benefited.
Patterson also disclosed plans to upgrade run-down Up Park Camp barracks, as well as build units under a scheme with the National Housing Trust.
"There is a partnership to get the approval of the National Housing Trust to make a sum available to build 300 units to house 1,200 soldiers," the prime minister said. "Some of the barracks will be destroyed and be replaced by modern buildings."
A facility to house soldiers in Montego Bay, on the island's northwest shore, will be completed by yearend, the prime minister said.
Last week, a new US$19-million vessel arrived from a Dutch shipyard for the Coast Guard and Patterson reminded that two more will arrive by the first quarter of next year.
Only the ignorant or those who would like a military take over as happens in every country with a uniraet security force,or having a foreign country impose a government on the country a la Haiti would propose any such merger.
The onlt deterrent to the takever of country by an armed force,is the potential of being opposed ny another armed force,along with armed citizens.
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