WESTERN BUREAU – Businessmen in western Jamaica have pledged support for newly appointed Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, but have cautioned that he has his work cut out for him.

Thomas, who has served 36 years with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, is to succeed current commissioner Francis Forbes, who will leave office on January 19 to take up a post as head of a new Caricom agency, which will coordinate regional efforts on crime and security.

“We will certainly be supporting the new appointment. He certainly has experience. He has worked along with the chamber of commerce, through the last commissioner of police, in developing community strategies in particular that have borne fruit,” president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce Wayne Cummings told the Observer.

His sentiments were echoed by president of the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce Dennis Seivwright.

“I am very pleased with his appointment. I know him to be a very hard-working policeman, dedicated to his duty. I believe that his knowledge of the area of crime will add to the efficiency in dealing with the monster,” Seivwright said.

There are however several issues that they believe he will have to address with immediacy, chiefly corruption.

“I am sure that the perennial problem of corruption exists and needs to be dealt with and dealt with swiftly,” said Cummings. “I believe corruption exists because the collusion (between) the police and the criminals are rife.

Seivwright said he felt attention should be directed at the increased application of forensic technology in crime-fighting.

“Too many people are getting away with murder because of a lack of proper forensic technology. So I hope he will put his energy there,” he said, adding his own views on the issue of police corruption.

“He will need to be very firm on that. People need to be accountable. You can’t own three Mercedes Benz and a $55-million house on a $50,000 salary. So we have to deal with crime and make sure that every policeman in this country is disassociated from criminals.”

President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce Winston Dear also called for questions to be asked of those constabulary members whose lifestyles outpace their income.

“We can’t have a police force (with) some of them living a lifestyle that certainly does not reflect their status. I have nothing against a man having a nice home and a nice car and all that, but it must be within his legal livelihood. And if it is outside then we need to question that,” Dear said.

He also called for speedy investigation of police officers accused of improper conduct, citing as example the unresolved Flankers shooting of two elderly men, allegedly by the police.

“The investigation of Flankers, that has to be concluded. The last commissioner, I was there when he gave his personal undertaking that this would be done. It would appear that it is being buried and that there is nobody responsible,” said the chamber president.

At the same time, Dear said he expected Thomas to perform his duties effectively.

“I know that he is a strong mean, a man of great integrity … if he tightens up the areas that we worry about, like the indiscipline (in the force)… then I think he will make a good commissioner,” he said.

“So, we are certainly going to back him and give him a chance, and look forward to a new regime that corrects the past.”

Godfrey Dyer, the owner of the Wexford Hotel in Montego Bay and president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, also expressed high hopes for Thomas’ tenure.

His immediate challenge, said Dyer, is to prevent a further escalation of crime, and to solve the cases on the books.

“He has to ensure that the cleared-up rate for crime is much better than it is now. One of the reasons that we have the type of situation we have, is because of the low percentage of cleared-up crime.”

– williamsp@jamaicaobserver.com