THE Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) has become the latest organisation to throw its support behind the Police Services Commission’s decision to advertise the post of Commissioner of Police.

According to the JCC, the time has come for a new approach in the appointment of a new commissioner, one which should be similar to that of an organisation seeking a chief executive officer. “This means that the most qualified person – man or woman, from within or outside the Force – should be selected for the job of Police Commissioner. The position is one that needs to be filled by a person of impeccable integrity, with courage and independence, who has proven his or her ability to lead in an ethical and values-based manner, and whose interpersonal skills are such that they can build bridges of understanding inside and outside the force and across social barriers…,” the JCC said in a release on Monday.

Commissioner Lucius Thomas, two weeks ago, announced his decision to end his contract at the end of October. Since then, speculations have been rife as to who the new top cop will be. Those emerging as front-runners from within the JCF are assistants commissioners Owen Ellington and Novlette Grant. The position, which is now advertised worldwide, is also said to be weighing heavily on the shoulders of retired Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, who has emerged as the “top outsider”. Lewin retired as Chief of Staff of the JDF on Wednesday.

Sources told the Observer, that he is being convinced to accept the post, which would see him as the second outsider, and second JDF personnel after Colonel Trevor MacMillan (1993-1996), serving in the post.

However, the Police Officers Association (POA), which represents ranked officers, and the Jamaica Police Federation, which represents constables to inspectors, have stated their opposition to the appointment of an ‘outsider’.

While agreeing that the best person should be appointed, they believe the position should be advertised internally, first, and if a suitable candidate is not found, then it should be advertised externally.

The JCC believes, however, that in making the choice it cannot be business as usual. The Chamber “wants Jamaica to think outside the box in tackling the issue of the appointment of a new Commissioner of Police”, warning that the country “has to get it right in order to give its citizens a better chance of survival”. According to the JCC, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is seeking a new leader at a crucial time in the nation’s history, and a different approach was necessary in how the nation made its choice.

“The JCC believes that the vast majority of Jamaicans are eager to see the appointment of a man or woman who will bring to the post of Commissioner the requisite high levels of effective leadership which will immediately tackle challenges within the Police Force itself, so that members of the Force can give their undivided attention to dealing effectively, within the limits of the law, with criminal elements in the country…,” the JCC said.

It believes that “…such an approach will have the multiplier effect of helping to build a relationship of mutual trust and co-operation between the Police Force and the vast majority of Jamaicans who are law-abiding members of the society”.

The chamber warned that “the country will find it virtually impossible to escape the clutches of criminality, until, and unless bridges of mutual trust, respect and co-operation can be built to secure a unified approach to crime fighting”.