( L - R ) MacMillan and Knight

Former Minister of National Security K.D. Knight has taken issue with Colonel Trevor MacMillan for comments he made in the Senate about the level of crime and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The following is a letter to the Editor by Mr. Knight:

The Editor, Sir:

It is amazing that Senator MacMillan could have said, as reported, that "I submit that in the last 20 years, if we had been increasing the size of the JCF to what is really required, the situation in Jamaica might just be different." This gives the impression that there has been no increase over these years.

Quite apart from the recruitment of the over 1,000 policemen to fill the shortfall referred to, it was me, as Minister, who increased the establishment of the force from 6,317 to 8,500, when the public service was being decreased. Wasn't this increase of over 3,000, achieved in the last twenty years and within my tenure? Senator McMillan needs to rethink the information he gave the Senate and, importantly, though difficult it may be for him to understand, that one can increase the numbers by 7,000, but if there is not a corresponding focus on quality, then increasing the numbers could actually worsen our situation.

new facilities built

Lastly whilst putting in policies to improve quality, improve police-citizen relationship, improve numbers, improve remuneration, improve mobility, improve the male/female ratio, improve general conditions of service, during my tenure some 35 new facilities were built and several refurbished.

And there is much more that could be said, especially about 1993 to 1996 where public relations hype was the order of the day.

I am, etc.,

KEITH D. KNIGHT

Member of Parliament