Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter

NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Dr. Peter Phillips yesterday said the Government was unable to grant the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) all it had requested by way of equipment it needs to tackle the country's crime problem.

He, however, promised to meet with the executive members of the Police Officers' Association (POA) to discuss the problem.

NOT ALL NEEDS

"We will not be able to address all the needs at once," said Dr. Phillips, who was speaking on the news programme 'Nationwide' on Power 106 FM.

He revealed that the Government had ordered over 1,000 firearms and ammunition, 100 motor bikes and 150 motor vehicles, safety gear among other equipment.

Reports are that representatives of the Ministries of Finance and National Security are currently in discussion with the police in an effort to arrive at a solution.

But according to the POA, the minimum fleet requirement for the JCF is 1,500 motor cars and 326 motor cycles. At present the JCF only has 1,023 motor cars, half of which are more than 10 years old.

"There is need for additional motor vehicles but we have to go as far as the resources can carry us," the National Security Minister said.

Pointing to the non-availability of uniform for police personnel, the Minister said that issue is being addressed. Yesterday a raggedly dressed sub-officer turned up at The Gleaner's North Street office with several of his uniform shirts which were filled with holes.

"This is what I have been wearing for the past two years," the frustrated sub-officer said.

According to the POA, for the past three years the JCF has not been able to outfit members with basic uniform requirements, which are five shirts, two pairs of pants or skirts, two pairs of footwear, one cap, one belt, one cummerbund, buttons, stockings and socks.

UNPRECEDENTED MOVE

In an unprecedented move on Monday, the POA, during a press conference, charged that a reduction in the budgetary allocation by Government was preventing members of the JCF from effectively fighting crime. The senior officers said at the start of the financial year, the JCF had requested just over $11 billion from the Government but only $8 billion was approved. That aside, the officers stressed that each month the money received is reduced and this significantly undermines operational capabilities.

Meanwhile, Derrick Smith, Opposition Spokesman on National Security, yesterday threw his support behind the POA.

"I am happy that the POA has finally found its voice along with the spunk to support a position continuously articulated by the Opposition," said Mr. Smith.

He said over the last 10 years the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) had not missed an opportunity to voice its concerns regarding the lack of resources being provided to the JCF.

Said Smith: "I highlighted all of these problems in Parliament during my sectoral presentation in May of this year. At that time I accused the Government of creating a ragtag police force."

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