KINGSTON, Jamaica — The newest branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch, which is aimed at restoring and enhancing public order and safety on the nation’s streets especially in the town centres islandwide, was officially launched this morning.

The entity is a merger of the Motorised Patrol and the Traffic divisions and will comprise of three divisions — the Public Safety, Highway and Safety Patrol and Traffic Enforcement.

It is ultimately positioned to operate primarily as providers of proactive and responsive safety service as well as high quality professional services to the people of Jamaica.

Speaking at today’s launch, National Security Minister Dr Horace Change said the rollout of the branch, which will be headquartered at the Elletson Road Police complex in Kingston, will start in the Corporate Area and St Catherine. It will later be extended to St James and major resort areas.

“The road to a safer, prosperous nation is not without challenges and great danger but with the creation of this branch, and the thorough leadership that guides both the JCF and the Jamaica Defence Force and the policy makers at the Ministry of National Security, I am confident that we are moving in the right direction,” Dr Chang said.

Officers assigned to the branch will be fitted with neon yellow gear, designed to make them easily identifiable.

However, the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has been criticised this decision, arguing that the choice of colour, which appears green, is a sign that Government is playing politics.

PNP spokesman on security Fitz Jackson, in a release earlier this week, said: “Jamaicans must be concerned about the blatant attempt to politically brand the police force by the ‘greening’ of the supplies, which is inconsistent with the established colours of the JCF.”

“The Opposition objects strongly to the introduction of these green bikes in the fight against crime and warns that their presence would immediately compromise the neutrality and impartiality of the force,” Jackson had said.

The claim was rubbished by senior police officers who said the colour of the bikes will make them easily seen on the streets.

According to the police officers, the colour of the new motorcycles “is in keeping with international standards”, and they pointed to the fleet in Colombia, as well as some of those in the United Kingdom and United States, as examples.

Tanesha Mundle