THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE RECENT announcement by the Prime Minister to relocate the Office of the Commissioner of Police to the old Jamintel Building is ill-advised and only shows contempt for the Jamaica Constabulary Force of which I am a proud member.
I wish to shout it loud and clear that 95 per cent of our membership are upset and disappointed with the announcement. It is our strong opinion that the arguments put forward by the Prime Minister are ludicrous and fallacious based on the following reasons:
1. The function of the Office of Commissioner is administrative and not operational and will make no difference to crime-fighting in downtown Kingston. The relocation of the office will only provide a soft target for criminals who can attack it from all angles. It would have been more logical to relocate the Special Anti-Crime Task Force and the Mobile Reserve to that building.
2. The building is outdated and was not constructed for police purposes especially in modern times.
3. The available building and parking space will not accommodate the entire Commissioner of Police Staff which include 101-105 Old Hope Road and the Professional Standards Branch.
4. The building was not constructed with modern ergonomics to facilitate a healthy work environment.
5. The maintenance cost of that particular building is one of the highest in Jamaica and will only deplete the already depleted JCF budget.
As a member of the Officer Corps along with hundreds of colleagues, we are expressing our disappointment with the leadership of the Government along with the support of a not so brilliant Opposition on the matter.
I wish to remind the Prime Minister that the original deal as communicated by the past Commissioner of Police, was for the construction of a well equipped and modern police facility according to police specification. This would have been realised from the proceeds achieved from the sale of the 101-105 Old Hope Road property.
I am, etc.,
ANGRY POLICE OFFICER
Via Go-Jamaica
