KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of National Security is advising that discussions are ongoing with Moneague College and other tertiary institutions to provide a certificate programme in security science and is insisting that there is no intention to take over the institutions.

The ministry in a release today sought to clarify assertions made in a June 25 Gleaner article titled ‘Gov’t to take over Moneague College for Police Training’.

“We have engaged Moneague College to develop a Memorandum of Understanding in order to establish a faculty for advanced training for police officers,” said Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang in his Sectoral Presentation on June 12.

The ministry said it is against this background that it has entered into discussions with Moneague College in an effort to continue building partnerships in providing training opportunities for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the wider security sector.

“The ministry recognises the value of the Moneague College to the communities in the parish of St Ann and its surroundings, and its invaluable contribution to nation building and remains committed to leveraging this partnership in a manner that improves its legacy and continued contribution to national development.

“This move follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with four tertiary institutions; the Moneague College, Montego Bay Community College, Hydel University College and the Catholic College of Mandeville, with the intention to create a special faculty for the training of potential JCF recruits in a certificate course for Fundamentals in Security Science.”

The course is slated to be on stream by January 2019, the ministry informed while assuring that these institutions continue usual registration for other course offerings.