THOSE WHO hold to the view that the head of the river is ultimately and personally responsible for the cleanliness of the flow downstream will have little time for equivocation on the stewardship of Commissioner of Police Francis Forbes. From this point of view, Mr. Forbes failed to offer the kind of leadership required during a time of crisis. As such, whether he was asked to resign or offered to quit voluntarily is of little importance.
In the eight years of his being head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, there has been a continuous increase in the nation's murder rates and claims of success in curtailing other incidence of crime notwithstanding, there were too many cases of abuse of citizens' rights. The new heights of indiscipline and corruption in the JCF and the spectacle of the commissioner being entangled in public quarrels with senior members of his officer corps did little to engender confidence in the minds of the public either.
But the management of organisations is usually more complex and nuanced with many variables. During Mr. Forbes' tenure, the country has had to grapple with the deportation of thousands Jamaicans convicted of crime in the United States, Canada and the U.K. Some of them brought back with them new expertise in criminality hitherto unknown to the local police and it took a long time before strategies were put in place to deal with these persons. There was the increased extortion and trafficking in narcotics, which enveloped significant segments of the island. This sometimes involved policemen acting as look-outs, guides and informants for their criminal cronies. There was also the inadequate funding, staff shortage and time-lag in acquiring new technology to allow the JCF to do a better job.
But when all is said and done, a record number of murders last year and the seeming inertia within the JCF and its leadership in particular, begged for swift regime change. In fairness, Mr. Forbes deserves commendation for rising through the ranks to become commissioner. He can't be held responsible for the social and economic context in which crime, and murder in particular, has reached crisis levels; and he did try to improve relations between the police and public.
He will, perhaps, provide a vigorous defence of his stewardship at a press conference set for later today. Of greater concern to us, is the way forward.
The new commissioner, Lucius Thomas, must move swiftly to gain the confidence of the public, quickly demonstrating that indiscipline in the force will be dealt with as a matter of priority; that strategies will be implemented that makes sense of the JCF's claim to having "cleared up" certain crimes meaning bringing suspects to conviction in a court of law and not just an arrest; and that the criminals in our midst have real reason to fear the honest, dedicated policeman who will track him/her down for acts of criminality. The new year and a new head offers an opportunity for shifts in perspectives and operations. The country needs this urgently.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
