Leonardo Blair, Staff ReporterGALLOPING CRIME
statistics are now kicking against the seat of Police Commissioner Francis Forbes as some 72 per cent of Jamaicans want him booted, says a Gleaner Online poll.
The poll which attracted votes from over more than 800 Jamaicans here and overseas was closed with a consensus to send the embattled Commissioner packing.
"I believe he should resign. Obviously his methods are ineffective. The murder rate is steadily climbing and the criminals are becoming even more brazen," said Wain, a respondent from the United States. "No matter what anyone says, I remember when Reneto Adams and his squad was around, the gunmen were so scared they had a bounty on his head. They were afraid to shoot because they knew Adams would find them and it would be over."
TIME HE STEPS DOWN
Another respondent, Indigo Lee, even though admitting that Mr. Forbes has tried, urged the Commissioner to quit while he could. "I think that it is time he steps down if there is another candidate who can effectively reduce the crime and violence plaguing the country. It is very sad that after eight years of Francis Forbes in office, he has achieved so little. I beseech him and his colleagues to put the country first and seek help from whichever avenue will assist," said Lee.
"Francis Forbes, eight years in office with murder rate of 900 in less than one year. This alone shows he is not effective. He should step down immediately if he means the country well," said Barbara Santa from the UK.
"Mr. Forbes ought to be ashamed of himself after saying that he is pleased at what he has done to combat crime; 900 people were killed and he is pleased. Pleased at what Mr. Forbes? Pleased that you are getting paid for something that you don't do well? Why not do the honourable thing and step down, then most of us would be pleased," said Sharlene Reid from the Bahamas.
PLEASED WITH
HIS PERFORMANCE
Just last week Commis-sioner Forbes said he was pleased with his performance despite the inordinate number of murders since January and since he took office eight years ago.
Speaking to journalists at a press conference at his office at Old Hope Road, St. Andrew, Mr. Forbes said he had done a fair job given the limited resources with which he is forced to work. "I am satisfied I have done my best with what I've got to do the job," he had said. "I've got some very positive results from the way I used whatever I got."
His comments came against the background of some 900 murders since the start of the year, and at least 70 murders committed in the past two weeks alone. Over the period, concerns have been mounting as to the Commissioner's perceived silence on what many consider to be an alarming murder rate.
Just 23 per cent of the respondents felt he should remain in his job while another five per cent felt 'maybe' he should step down.
