Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
PMI Chairman, Bishop the Rev. Herro Blair, on a call during the joint police/military operation in Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, on Tuesday. In the background is Opposition Leader, Bruce Golding. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
BISHOP HERRO Blair, chairman of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI), said on Wednesday that he was considering resigning, following suggestions last week that the PMI was negotiating with known criminals.
Bishop Blair said that, from its inception, the PMI has stipulated it would not sit around the same table with wanted men or criminals.
Speaking to The Gleaner before addressing the weekly luncheon of the Lion's Club of Kingston at the Pegasus Hotel, Bishop Blair said there was ambivalence within the Jamaica Constabulary Force regarding the PMI's usefulness.
VERY CONCERNED
"I am very concerned when we can be accused (of) having talks with known criminals, and I have to consider my options where the PMI is concerned," Bishop Blair said.
His comments were in response to those made by Assistant Police Commissioner Leon Rose who is in charge of Area One.
ACP Rose last week denounced the practice of influential groups negotiating with criminals.
"If the police think we (PMI) are in these communities dealing with criminals, they should lock us up," the PMI chairman said. "If one part of the constabulary force is saying you must go in and talk to the people, and another part is saying you cannot talk to the people, there must be division in the house."
Bishop Blair added that, while he has never seen criminals with any guns during the PMI's work since 2002, members within that organisation have admitted to seeing gunmen in certain communities.
The PMI was established three years ago in response to growing crime in mostly Corporate Area communities. The PMI was designed to act as a buffer to help defuse tensions in war-torn areas.
