By Erica James-King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE SNAIL'S pace of the government's acquisition of technology and resources to bolster anti-narcotics and gun-contraband programmes is retarding the police in crime-fighting.
That's the perspective of several civic leaders who are indicating that government's inertia in delivering on its promises to address security issues, has compounded the problems facing law enforcers. They are warning the authorities to see the latest upswing in murders and shootings in St. James, as another wake-up call to urgent action in putting support mechanisms in place to strengthen crime-fighting measures.
Michael Ammar, Jnr., president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, is asking why it was taking the government so long to put Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in crime-prone areas. "Three years ago, we called for the introduction of CCTV in major urban centres and recently I did hear Minister Phillips talk about it, but it's taking much too long to implement," Mr. Ammar complained.
"CCTV would allow them (police) to monitor from central locations, activities in ...any trouble spot and send in people as something happens. Plus, they would have a tape recording of it, to pursue whomever did it," he added.
Also, Mr. Ammar is knocking the authorities for what he said was their foot-dragging on overhauling the fingerprint legislation, as well as installing X-ray machines at the ports, to stave off the illegal entry of drugs and guns into the island. "There are huge breaches of security at the ports where cargo is not being examined... so the whole port security issue needs to be addressed in a much stronger manner," he said.
The recent signing by the Port Authority of Jamaica of contracts totalling $1 billion (US$18 million) for X-ray machines for the ports comes over two years after the government had declared it would be taking steps to acquire the equipment. It will not be until another six months, before the first of the machines arrives in Jamaica.
COLLABORATION
Turning to police/citizens collaboration in crime-fighting, Mr. Ammar is lamenting that the "police force lacks credibility," because of its frequent involvement in controversial incidents. An answer to that problem, he said, is better on-the-ground supervision for police personnel on mobile and ground patrols.
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica is suggesting prescriptions similar to those of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, on how the authorities and law enforcers can stay ahead of the criminals.
Beverly Lopez, president of the PSOJ, believes the lack of will power and paucity of resources, will be the downfall of the authorities in tackling crime. "I dare say, resources are a problem, but sometimes it's the will to implement that really is creating problems," Mrs. Lopez commented. She urged government to take a hard look at its spending and give priority attention to expenditure on resources for the war against crime.
