Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Local Government and Sport, talks with Dr. André Gordon (right), president of Jamaice Exporters Association, and Claude Clarke after the Team Portia's Crime and Justice Forum on Crime and Justice Consultation by Mrs. Simpson Miller, candidate for president of the People's National Party, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, yesterday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
ENSURING LAW and order as well as a properly functioning justice system will be the highest priority of a Portia Simpson Miller-led government, the People's National Party presidential candidate said yesterday.
Mrs. Simpson Miller said these requirements are the first responsibility of a government. She was speaking at Team Portia's Crime and Justice Forum yesterday at the Jamaica Conference Centre.
"Jamaica is sick and tired of being sick and tired of the shedding of the innocent blood," she said. Minister Simpson Miller said it was unacceptable that 1,669 Jamaicans were murdered last year, up from 975 two years ago.
The Cabinet has approved new plans to tackle crime, and she has no intention of backing away from those decisions, she said. But she has some ideas of her own to implement.
"I intend to bring new approaches, new ideas and importantly, promote a new era of trust between the citizens of Jamaica, the law enforcement agencies, the criminal justice administration and the government," she said.
NEW ERA OF TRUST
"The basic approach will not only include a strategy of crime control and crime management but also a public safety strategy, encompassing a proactive community-based crime prevention programme," she said. The community will play an integral part in the reduction of crime with the church, community organisations, families, the private sector and the media all being involved.
The media will assist in the education and resocialisation needed to build good moral values and attitudes necessary to restore public order, Mrs. Simpson Miller said.
"There will be a reform and modernisation of the administrative management systems of the law enforcement agencies to achieve international standards and re-focus on the community-based strategy of the public safety programme," she stated. Noting that the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force were important organisations in crime fighting, she said that both will be strengthened to foster trust and cooperation, through the community programmes.
COMMUNITY SAFETY PROGRAMMES
"If we get it right at the community level, we will get it right at the national level," she said.
She added that a new commission to be named Independent Public Review Commission will be established to enhance professional standards and reduce instances of misconduct and violation of human rights by security personnel.
Additionally, new legislation governing the responsibility and operating methods of the law enforcement agencies, as well as a crime statistics data system, will be implemented, she said.
