MAYOR OF Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie said yesterday that the proposed amalgamation of the corporation's Traffic Wardens with the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) would put an end to wardens accepting bribes as an option to ticketing traffic offenders.
Addressing the corporation's road and Traffic Meeting at the KSAC Offices on Church Street in downtown Kingston, Councillor McKenzie said, "in many cases, transactions are done on the side road," however, he said the new system would put a dent on these reports. His suggestion was met with applause from other Council members. According to him, the Traffic Wardens department was "very sore" as among other things, several members of the department were "rude and arrogant."
Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, during the 2002/2003 Sectoral Debate announced the Govern-ment's intention to increase the functions of the ISCF to include a lead role in maintaining public order. The suggestion was first made four years ago by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson for the amalgamation of the splintered groups performing quasi-police work to fall directly under the supervision of the ISCF.
CONSULTATIONS
Gilbert Scott, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security told The Gleaner yesterday that the amendments to the Constabulary Act have been drafted by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and noted that consultations were being undertaken with the agencies which would be impacted on by the new law.
The agencies include environmental, forestry and agricultural wardens, as well as the municipal police in main towns and cities. Among the new responsibilities, which will fall under the ISCF, are law enforcement and the prohibition of illegal vending, illegal operation of taxis and unlawful conduct at public events.
In November 2001, Town Clerk Errol Greene, said based on his observation and evaluation, some traffic wardens presently employed to the KSAC would not be part of the amalgamation process. "I don't think that that system would absorb everybody as most of the traffic wardens do not have the qualifications to be absorbed into the ISCF," he had said.
