With the murder rate racing past 70 since the start of the year, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) says it is focussing this year on promoting the rule of law.

"We will be improving the forensic capability of the Jamaica Constabulary Force," new PSOJ president, Christopher Zacca, told a Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) Editors Roundtable meeting at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston, Tuesday. In 2005, as part of a PSOJ initiative, the GraceKennedy Group donated $5 million to purchase digital photography technology to assist the Jamaica Constabulary Force in investigating crime.

The rule of law

Zacca said the PSOJ's emphasis on the rule of law involves fighting crime and corruption as well as ensuring compliance with regulations - claiming that the inefficiencies of the bureaucracy faced by business aspirants "force noncompliance".

In fact, Zacca and Peter John Thwaites, chairman of the PSOJ's crime committee, argue that corruption is at the root of the country's nagging crime problem, and have called for the enactment of legislation to dismantle racketeering enterprises.

The Proceeds of Crime Bill, which targets the earnings of individuals engaged in criminal enterprise, has made slow progress through the legislature. A report by the parliamentary committee that examined the Bill has been tabled and is awaiting debate.

"(With no legislation in place) nobody goes to criminal enterprises and say 'prove this to me young man'," noted Thwaites in response to questions about the PSOJ's attitude to corrupt business entities and individuals.

"Corruption is the root of the lack of obedience to what is right and correct," Thwaites told participants attending the PAJ meeting.