PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE, Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller, undoubtedly has many serious matters to consider, but none of these is more important than the reduction of crime and the re-establishment of peace and security in the country.
Several important steps have been taken to address the security agenda in past months. There is a range of new legislation in preparation, including plea bargaining, better use of fingerprints, wiretapping, an oversight committee, and the Proceeds of Crime Act. All of these follow similar actions being taken in the developed countries with which we relate.
The modernisation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), a national security strategy and the efforts to allow the JCF to benefit from the experience of overseas officers are all programmes that require completion.
Many of the current diplomatic relations between Jamaica and foreign governments focus on the need to reduce the flow of drugs and criminals between Jamaica and the U.S.A., Canada and Britain. All of these countries have cooperated with Jamaica with supporting resources and personnel to help us reduce these threats.
Perhaps there will be many persons hoping to see the new Prime Minister ease up on efforts to reduce crime. Drug wealth, combined with corrupt or opportunistic people, will press the Prime Minister to allow Jamaica to go backwards in its campaign to reduce corruption and criminality. The Prime Minister's own constituency is not an oasis of industry and tranquillity. But then, very few places in Jamaica are. Equally, as an experienced politician she will naturally question the integrity of some political backers. She should be able to determine those who are seeking to be influence peddlers for their own self-serving purposes.
We trust, too, that the incoming Prime Minister in making her appointments will realise that her victory was assisted by the unpopularity Dr. Peter Phillips partly gained from his efforts to fight crime. The new Prime Minister should, however, give him the opportunity to complete a job that is showing some evidence of bearing good fruit. Jamaica should benefit greatly from this.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
