Byron Buckley, News Editor
Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips (left), speaks to Gilbert Kamoka, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Area Four, outside Gordon House before making his Budget presentation yesterday. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Dr. Peter Phillips yesterday announced the establishment of a $200 million Community Security Fund to be spent over two years.
The fund is to finance the transformation of violence-prone communities with new social services aimed at resisting the control of criminals, Dr. Phillips told the House of Representatives in his contribution to the Budget Debate.
A few weeks ago the National Security Minister told The Gleaner that government was considering implementing a social component, alongside crime-fighting activities by the security forces. He noted then that an earlier initiative in 2002 in areas of Kingston had fizzled due to the lack of sustainable resources.
TO COUNTER DONS
In addition, social activists like Monsignor Richard Albert have consistently advocated that the police needed to be a conduit to state-provided socio-economic benefits. This is to counter the controlling effects of so-called dons on communities.
The minister said yesterday that the security forces would "hand off social intervention initiatives to appropriate social agencies under the direction of the Development Division (Cabinet Office) following the restoration of normality in these communities."
Other preparatory activities by the security forces include securing the environment for the regular delivery of essential public services such as policing, garbage collection, public lighting and sewerage disposal.
The security forces, Dr. Phillips said, will also "provide protection for (the holding of ) forums to pursue reconciliation, restoration and ultimate healing of relationships within ... primarily post-Operation Kingfish communities.
Dr. Phillips disclosed yesterday that the fund would be managed by a board of trustees drawn from the Ministry of National Security, the Cabinet Office, international donor partners, the Social Development Commission, the Planning Institute of Jamaica and members of the National Consultative Committee on Crime and Violence.
THE OBJECTIVES
To aid the social transformation of communities prone to crime and violence into safe zones with legitimate processes of governance.
To deliver public services to poor socially excluded communities to enable them to resist the control of criminals.
To support the establishment of a network of Community Security Gorups of citizens to work in partnership woth the local police.
