Dear Editor,

I am a serving constable of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) based in Western Jamaica. I am a concerned police constable who believes firmly in the rule of law that and corruption must be exposed wherever it happens, moreso in government.

I fully support Robert Dalley, who a few days ago wrote an excellent and necessary letter published in the Jamaica Observer calling upon the local government minister, Desmond McKenzie, to carry out a national accounting audit of all parish councils throughout the country, including the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), and to make public the findings thereafter.

I think he wrote against the background of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) of the JCF carrying out multiple police raids at three named parish councils where, after intensive investigations, fraud and/or impropriety have been discovered.

MOCA is a specially vetted police unit and will investigate any form of corruption wherever it takes place, carrying out extensive probing and investigation.

I was quite taken aback when Mayor of Spanish Town Norman Scott and Kingston Mayor Angela Brown Burke both stated recently, through television news reports, that the police raids on those parish councils were politically motivated. They most certainly were not. Do not seek, through political motives, to impugn MOCA and our hard-working police officers assigned to this agency of the force. It is wrong and can damage the overall morale of MOCA and the JCF.

I believe they both owe the JCF, particularly the MOCA team, a public apology.

Robert Dalley is correct, from my informed law enforcement opinion, to suggest to Minister Desmond McKenzie that a full, comprehensive forensic accounting audit be conducted of all parish councils throughout the country. It is most needed at this time, because corruption seems pervasive within some of the parish councils.

Some reports of corruption taking place in some parish councils are a national disgrace and need the immediate action of Minister McKenzie.

We need more fearless and outspoken citizens and writers like Dalley.

Serving JCF constable

Western Jamaica