By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
An emotional James Forbes receives a special gift from Woman Constable Jean McDonald, during a farewell reception held in his honour at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, on Tuesday night. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
JAMES FORBES, who for more than five years has had to do a lot of talking as head of the Constabulary Communication Network (CNN), was on Tuesday night at a loss for words.
"Tonight I am in two spirits, one of tremendous joy and one of tremendous sadness. I know what is happening in the hearts of my friends," the 42-year-old Forbes later told colleagues at the reception held in his honour at the Talk of the Town, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston.
He told CCN staff they while they were faced with many challenges, they should strive to maintain their credibility and integrity because that was the only way their success would be measured.
A graduate of Charlie Smith High School in South St. Andrew, Mr. Forbes has gone on secondment, taking up a new job offer as the vice-president in charge of security at the Port Authority of Jamaica. He has replaced Major Vincent Anderson who is now at the Ministry of National Security.
Under the terms of the secondment, at the end of his three-year contract he can return to the JCF if he so desires.
Deputy Commissioners of Police, Tilford Johnson and Jevene Bent described Mr. Forbes as a most reliable person who could get any task completed before the set deadline.
The audience heard that the former CCN head spent some of his growing up years in Jones Town, Kingston, but that he went to live with his grandmother in Thompson Town, Clarendon. His role model was the Rev. Roy Henry, pastor of the East Queen Baptist Church, a close friend of his even to today. At the time the Rev. Mr. Henry was a preacher in the parish.
"I tried to do everything like him (Rev. Henry)," said Mr. Forbes.
A 23-year veteran of the police force, he joined the JCF on September 1, 1980, a year after he graduated from high school. He got enlisted the very same day his favourite cousin, who was a member of the police force, was killed violently.
During his tenure he served at the Motorised Patrol, Community Relations, Mediation Unit, Police Federation and St. Andrew North Division.
Mr. Forbes was promoted to the rank of corporal in June 1987, four years later to sergeant and in 1994 he became an Inspector and Chairman of the Police Federation. In December 1997 he was promoted to Deputy Superintendent and in 2003 elevated to Superintendent.
