Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
A Jamaica Labour Party supporter rings a symbolic bell during Sunday's open session of the party's 63rd annual conference at the National Arena, Kingston. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
OPPOSITION LEADER Bruce Golding says his naming of a crime task force would not conflict with the party's participation on the bi-partisan Crime Committee.
He told The Gleaner yesterday that the functions of the two bodies were different with his task force focusing on identifying funds to help fight crime, which he said on Sunday would be the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) priority if it forms the next government.
MACMILLAN TO HEAD NON-PARTISAN TEAM
During the JLP's annual conference on Sunday at the National Arena in Kingston, Mr. Golding named former Police Commissioner Trevor MacMillan to head what he said was a special non-partisan team to look at crime and develop an action plan to confront the problem.
"I'm giving a commitment that we are going to find that money," Mr. Golding told The Gleaner. "If we don't deal with this crime issue, investment and education won't make sense."
NATIONAL SECURITY INITIATIVES
The JLP participates on the bi-partisan Crime Committee which seeks to have collaboration on national security initiatives.
But Mr. Golding said his task force differs from all others, as its main remit would be to find how a new JLP government would generate resources to help solve crime.
"I don't think any other committee was ever allowed to do so, because the Government doesn't want to face that figure," Mr. Golding said.
He added that the terms of reference for the MacMillan-led task force were still being decided, with a view to them being announced later this week.
Meanwhile, Colonel MacMillan chairs the crime committee of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). But PSOJ president Beverley Lopez told The Gleaner yesterday she saw no conflict of interest.
"We need to recognise we need the best minds to bring a solution to the crime problem," she said.
