Police Commissioner Francis Forbes (right) greets Daphne Ziadie, mother of Abe Ziadie, who was murdered in 2000 and in whose memory a scholarship fund was launched for children of members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. In the background are Deputy Commissioner Lucius Thomas (second left) and Gloria Palomino of the St. Andrew Central Police Civic Committee. The meeting took place at the Commissioner's Office. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer POLICE COMMISSIONER Francis Forbes yesterday signalled the readiness of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to perform at the highest professional standards during the upcoming general election.
He said the Police Force had recruited and sworn in more than 15,000 parish specials 'one-day police' for work on election day, police personnel would be held to the usual high standard of professional performance during the election period and anyone who breached the rules would be subject to swift and strong discipline.
In announcing the JCF's readiness for the election, Commissioner Forbes told a press conference at his office on Old Hope Road, St. Andrew, that the Force had been collaborating closely with the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EoJ) to ensure that the proper facilities were in place on election day. He said that having been told that there would be 7,200 polling stations in 2,500 locations on election day, the JCF was prepared to ensure that every polling location was manned by regular police in addition to whatever auxiliary support was available.
"We were grateful for the positive marks that the Force received after the North East St. Ann by-election, where we were lauded by electoral officials and political representatives alike," he said. "We are intent on replicating our successes in that by-election through the length and breadth of Jamaica for the general election."
Commissioner Forbes said that Carter Centre representatives from Atlanta, Georgia, had had several meetings with the JCF and their representatives who are going to be assigned to work with the police and will on election day be allowed to have free access to Police Command and Control Centres as they did in the last elections.
Plans for the elections include use by the police of special vests that will be worn by all police personnel, whether regulars, detectives or auxiliaries, who are deployed during the period. The vests are to be displayed to the public before the elections.
The Commissioner advised the public that on election day, people who represented themselves as working police but were not in regular uniform or were not wearing any of the approved vests, were to be deemed illegal and reported to the Police High Command.
"Policemen who have a habit of reporting sick and joining a bandwagon somewhere will be treated in a special way once again, and if they are accompanying any politician and are not dressed in vests that indicate that they are on official duty, they are going to be removed and disciplinary action is going to be taken immediately," he said.
In announcing the recruitment of the more than 15,000 parish specials, Commissioner Forbes said the JCF had been requested to provide their names way in advance to the Director of Elections, who provided the opportunity for input from the political parties and candidates. Of the over 15,000 names that were submitted, only 80 were returned because of opposition to them. The 15,000 parish specials are sworn in for 30 days.
The Commissioner said that all of the rejections - coming from a general agreement by all parties concerned - came from one particular constituency in St. Catherine but he did not divulge the name of the area.
"We have done that... have recruited replacements for them; those names have been submitted and we've had no objections so far," he said.
