Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN on National Security Derrick Smith has asked Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to relieve National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips of his portfolio for failing to devote more time to his job of reducing crime.
However, an aide to Dr. Phillips last night dismissed the Opposition spokesman's call while affirming the minister's commitment.
In a statement issued to the press yesterday, Mr. Smith said in light of the current crime figures, Dr. Phillips may not be the best person to oversee the National Security Ministry.
As such, he suggested that Mr. Patterson initiate an assessment of the National Security Ministry "in light of the current homicide and crime figures."
Mr. Smith noted that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) crime review for the period January 1 to July 31, this year, showed that 1,000 murders were committed in the first seven months of the year, compared with 789 over the same period last year, an increase of 26 per cent. A total of 537 persons were killed during the comparative period in 2003.
Earlier this year, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), the information arm of the JCF, announced that it would discontinue distributing its weekly crime blotters. The CCN insisted that a shortage of manpower was putting pressure on staff members who collate and disseminate the data.
But, yesterday Mr. Smith accused the Government of trying to hide the crime figures from the public to create what he said was "a false sense of security and comfort".
NO TIME TO CONCENTRATE ON CRIME
He added: "The fact that the current minister is not only Leader of the House of Representatives, but is also actively campaigning to succeed the current Prime Minister as leader of the People's National Party (PNP), suggests that the time available to him to concentrate on crime fighting may be compromised."
However, Donovan Nelson, an aide to Dr. Phillips, dismissed Mr. Smith's assertion, stating that his boss was committed to the task.
"The minister is very dedicated to the portfolio and is committed to making the necessary changes," he told The Gleaner.
Mr. Nelson said he believed that, "If Derrick Smith was closer to the actual portfolio responsibility for national security" he would have had a better understanding of the accomplishments of the minister.
"He clearly has discounted the efforts of the Minister of National Security as it relates to the modernisation of the security forces," Mr. Nelson argued. He also pointed to several other areas, including addressing violence in schools, that he said Dr. Phillips had achieved.
Mr. Nelson added that when the National Security Minister travels overseas, it frequently involves seeking international assistance to fight crime here.
"The minister is convinced and determined to fix the crime problem," Mr. Nelson said.
