Smith

Mark Beckford, Gleaner Writer

In reference to the alleged police beating of former People's National Party candidate Dr. Jephthah Ford, recently Opposition spokesman on National Security Derrick Smith, said that Jamaica would not see any similar occurrences, if the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) formed the next government.

Speaking at the JLP's monthly area one council meeting, Sunday at Tyrell Plaza, Red Hills, Smith said this was a manifestation of the ills in the security portfolio under the current Government.

"The police have again come to the fore during last week with the mauling of Jephthah Ford. What happened to Dr. Ford has happened to hundreds of black people. I don't know the circumstances of the Ford issue, but what I can say, regardless of the circumstances, there is obviously a display of unprofessional behaviour by the police for that type of beating."

He said such force would not be tolerated under a Labour Party government as "under the incoming Labour Party, policemen or women will not be allowed to brutalise poor black people in this country anymore".

He added, " We are going to demand a level of professionalism from our policemen and women."

Smith also hit out at the Government's handling of the crime problem, saying the 20 per cent reduction in murders last year was now eroded by recent statistics which show an increase in crime in the first three months of this year when compared to the similar period, last year.

"We have not been doing any better as far as the crime management of the country is concerned; in fact we have been doing worse than last year."

"We also said it was too early to celebrate (gains made last year) and so said, so done because at the end of the first quarter this year there has been an increase of 15 per cent over last year. The Government, after 18 years, still has not been able to find an answer to the runaway crime problem."

Smith reiterated that the JLP will be putting security at the forefront, if they formed the next government when elections are held.

Smith said changes would be made to re-shape the police force to transform it into a world class force with the requisite skills and equipment to serve the society.

"Notwithstanding the demands of every sector, we have already taken the decision that for the first three years of the first term of the next Labour Party government the largest slice of the budget cake will be going to the portfolio of National Security," he stated.