US says police commissioner's anti-corruption drive being hindered by roadblocks

Friday, March 04, 2011

THE US State Department yesterday said that Police Commissioner Owen Ellington's drive to rid the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) of corruption is being hindered by internal, judicial, and political roadblocks.

At the same time, the State Department, in its 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), noted the success of the police's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), pointing to the more than 200 cops dismissed since the inception of the unit and policies implemented by the constabulary to tackle corruption.

"The commissioner has taken a strong public stance against corruption and is continuing to implement and expand the strategic reform process that was initiated by the former JCF commissioner," the State Department report said.

"However, it is unclear whether the commissioner will secure the necessary legislative and executive support, both in funding and political backing, to make significant and enduring progress in combating police corruption and transforming the institution," the report added.

The report said that since the inception of the Anti-Corruption Branch in September 2008, 250 JCF personnel have been dismissed for unethical and corrupt behaviour, with 188 of those dismissed in 2010.

However, last night, Assistant Commissioner of Police Justine Felice, who heads the Anti-Corruption Branch, said the unit was established in 2007 and while he could not say definitively how many cops have been dismissed since then, a total of 181 were cashiered last year.

Addressing the measures put in place to tackle corruption in the constabulary, the report said, "The Government of Jamaica now requires senior police officers to sign employment contracts that improve accountability and facilitate the speedy dismissal of corrupt police officers".

The report also noted that the JCF is addressing corruption through its community-based policing programme.

The State Department also praised the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) for its handling of corruption, saying that it has been more effective in identifying and responding to the problem within its ranks, compared to the JCF.

"The JDF, while not immune from corruption, has taken swift disciplinary action when warranted in furtherance of its zero tolerance policy," the report said.

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COMMENTS (9)

carlton burton
3/4/2011

@ george watson writes as if the JLP fired ALL the honest police personnel that the PNP had in the 18 years of admidistruction and employed their own corrupt police. Georgie boy,they have been there ALL along. NUFF SAID

Island Patriot
3/4/2011

"it is unclear whether the commissioner will secure the necessary legislative and executive support both in funding and political backing", if the our leadership and judicial officers cannot enforce better/harsher penalties, whencorruption is founded, then it will all be for show. Look at how the Internal Affairs branch are coming up against roadblocks when they tried to arrest a corrupt police officer the other day?

Steve Allen
3/4/2011

Weed out the cockroaches from the good policemen and women who are working so hard to better off our country.

D T
3/4/2011

@ George Watson Try and focus on the positive direction the JCF is heading we cant make everything about the government the public must now stand up and work with the police to rid this country of crime.

Wayne L
3/4/2011

George Watson which constituency will you be running in come next election? I swear you are a political activist. Note, even the person in charge has indirectly pointed to inaccuracy in the report. There has been successes to write about so what is their point? Corruption is endemic in our society, it is the way we have been cultured. The entire society need a cultural revolution, one that forces pple to abandon the give me a blye attitude for just about everything.

Kram Blake
3/4/2011

George Watson what is your point? This report had lots of positives and showed improvement and progress being made. There is always room for improvement and once the foundation is laid we can continue to work on improveing things. Move on and do not dwell so much on the past or the minor negatives.

pancho morris
3/4/2011

We do not need the U.S. State Department to tell us something we know. Who cares what they think? We are doing this for the people of Jamaica and not the U.S.

Isaac Riley Jr.
3/4/2011

I wonder what "roadblocks" are hindering efforts here in NYC from removing t the mafia's influence on contracts? They made a killing out in Long Island, what are the "roadblocks" there? The only difference in politicians here in the US and those back home in JA is the level of pestiferous sophistry!

george watson
3/4/2011

In the not too distant past such a scorching indictment from the US would be greeted with a hue and cry lamenting PNP corruption. The media would be replete with editorials and columns and a particular talk show host would be waxing warm.
Even fly by night H/R organizations with little status had their criticism emblazoned in headlines above the fold, often in red. I don’t remember hearing much from them following the death of 73+. Now we have this coming down from the U.S S.D who must have done their homework, we shall see.
Does anybody even remember that this govt rode into power on the back of perceived corruption by a PNP government?

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US says police commissioner's anti-corruption drive being hindered by roadblocks