By Rayon Dyer, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
KERN SMALLING, the People's National Party (PNP) councillor for the Black River division, in St. Elizabeth, has submitted a resolution to the St. Elizabeth Parish Council, calling on National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips, to speed up the re-establishment of a marine post in Black River.
Mr. Smalling, who emerged as one of the parish's new councillors in the recent local government elections, is underscoring the need for tighter security along the island's south coast, where illegal activities are said to be continuing with impunity.
The resolution, a copy of which was obtained by The Gleaner, reads as outlined below.
"Whereas the Minister of National Security Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips promised a marine post for Black River to monitor the south coast; and whereas in the last two years a number of boats and engines have been seized by the police along the south coast; and whereas there are reports of a number of persons entering the country illegally by boat; and whereas there has been recent reports that 'hard drugs' have been entering the island by sea along the south coast; and whereas as recently as February 3, 2004, 65 Honduran fishermen were refused entry because of no travel documents; be it resolved that this Parish Council calls on National Security, Minister Dr. Phillips to immediately fulfil the promise of the Marine Post; be it further resolved that the boats and engines seized by the police be utilised to patrol the southern coastline until adequate facilities are put in place."
CORE ISSUES
The resolution, which has received the full backing of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillors, was described as being timely as it speaks to the heart of some the core issues affecting the south coast.
Within recent years, Black River and its environs has been under the microscope on account of the activities of South American drug dealers and their local counterparts, who are said to be using the area as a haven for drug smuggling and gun-running. It was against that background that the security ministry announced that the town's marine post would be re-established.
However, with the security ministry seemingly tardy in keeping its promise, the resolution by Councillor Smalling is aimed at putting the issue back on the table. Because of the limited marine resources available to the local police, the entire coastline, which spans St. Ann to St. Elizabeth, is seemingly at the mercy of drug dealers, who are seemingly able to get in and out without much interference.
In speaking to the absence of adequate marine protection along sections of the north and south coast, Police Commissioner Francis Forbes recently told journalists in Montego Bay that he was exploring the police of having the monies seized from drug dealers used to acquire boats for the police.
