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Western Jamaica needs Craig Oates
While I am not familiar with the various factors that are taken into consideration when a decision is made to transfer a policeman, I am sincerely hoping that something can be done to reverse the recent transfer of Corporal Craig Oates, who was moved from Hanover to St. Catherine last week.
Unlike some policemen, whose sole involvement in the community they work in is to hunt down and arrest miscreants, Corporal Oates was one who was totally immersed in the life of Sandy Bay, where he was stationed for several years. There was absolutely no question that he enjoyed the confidence, respect and love of the vast majority of the residents.
In addition to being seen as a fair arbitrator in domestic disputes and a man who treated his obligation to protect and serve seriously, Corporal Oates was also 'Mr. Sports' to the community. He was the chief organiser for football corner league, a respected sports administrator and a successful coach of the Sandy Bay football team.
top man in the parish
Because of the impact he has been making on football in Sandy Bay and the nearby Montpelier community, Corporal Oates was elected as the first vice-president of the Hanover Football Asso-ciation two years ago. It, essentially, made him the top man in the parish's football, since the FA is led by Lorraine Scringer, the lone female parish president in Jamaica.
After two years of dedicated service to the Hanover FA, during which he also almost single-handedly turned around the fortunes of the parish's youth football programme, Oates was nominated by the parish to contest the position of vice-chairman in the recent Jamaica Football Fed-eration Western Confederation's (JFFWC) elections. He was subsequently elected to the position unopposed.
With a chance to impact western Jamaica's football in a meaningful way from his vaunted position in the JFFWC, Corporal Oates' hopes were dashed last week when news came that he was to be transferred to St. Catherine. The news came as a body blow to football in western Jamaica, which is now seeking new faces and new vision to restore pride to our football.
Having personally seen the impact that Corporal Oates has made since becoming vice-chairman of the JFFWC, I believe his transfer has robbed the region of a man who is truly committed to advancing the nation-building side of policing. In addition to being a role model and father figure to many young men, he was proving that the relationship between the police and public did not have to be acrimonious.
While I respect the police High Command's right to transfer policemen whenever and to wherever they choose, I am sure that had they taken the time to evaluate the type of impact Corporal Oates was having here in western Jamaica, they would have kept him in this region, where his hands on community involvement is so much needed.
reverse the transfer
I am sincerely hoping that his transfer can be reversed and to that end, I hope the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, the Hanover FA, the football clubs in the parish and the various schools Corporal Oates now serves as chairman, will consider seeking audience with the commissioner of police with a view of having this particular transfer reversed. At a time when we so desperately need positive role models, western Jamaica needs a Craig Oates.
While I have no doubt that Corporal Oates has the capacity to make a positive impact wherever he goes, from a purely parochial standpoint, I would want to see him back in western Jamaica. From his position as vice chairman of the JFFWC, I would like to see him in the fore-front of the fight to lift our football out of the abyss into which it has fallen in recent years.
Should his transfer stay in place, it is unlikely that Corporal Oates will be able to serve our football from St. Catherine. I am therefore using this medium to call on the police high command to re-think his transfer and return this sports-loving cop to western Jamaica.
Feel free to send your feed-back to: adrianfrater@hotmail.com
While I am not familiar with the various factors that are taken into consideration when a decision is made to transfer a policeman, I am sincerely hoping that something can be done to reverse the recent transfer of Corporal Craig Oates, who was moved from Hanover to St. Catherine last week.
Unlike some policemen, whose sole involvement in the community they work in is to hunt down and arrest miscreants, Corporal Oates was one who was totally immersed in the life of Sandy Bay, where he was stationed for several years. There was absolutely no question that he enjoyed the confidence, respect and love of the vast majority of the residents.
In addition to being seen as a fair arbitrator in domestic disputes and a man who treated his obligation to protect and serve seriously, Corporal Oates was also 'Mr. Sports' to the community. He was the chief organiser for football corner league, a respected sports administrator and a successful coach of the Sandy Bay football team.
top man in the parish
Because of the impact he has been making on football in Sandy Bay and the nearby Montpelier community, Corporal Oates was elected as the first vice-president of the Hanover Football Asso-ciation two years ago. It, essentially, made him the top man in the parish's football, since the FA is led by Lorraine Scringer, the lone female parish president in Jamaica.
After two years of dedicated service to the Hanover FA, during which he also almost single-handedly turned around the fortunes of the parish's youth football programme, Oates was nominated by the parish to contest the position of vice-chairman in the recent Jamaica Football Fed-eration Western Confederation's (JFFWC) elections. He was subsequently elected to the position unopposed.
With a chance to impact western Jamaica's football in a meaningful way from his vaunted position in the JFFWC, Corporal Oates' hopes were dashed last week when news came that he was to be transferred to St. Catherine. The news came as a body blow to football in western Jamaica, which is now seeking new faces and new vision to restore pride to our football.
Having personally seen the impact that Corporal Oates has made since becoming vice-chairman of the JFFWC, I believe his transfer has robbed the region of a man who is truly committed to advancing the nation-building side of policing. In addition to being a role model and father figure to many young men, he was proving that the relationship between the police and public did not have to be acrimonious.
While I respect the police High Command's right to transfer policemen whenever and to wherever they choose, I am sure that had they taken the time to evaluate the type of impact Corporal Oates was having here in western Jamaica, they would have kept him in this region, where his hands on community involvement is so much needed.
reverse the transfer
I am sincerely hoping that his transfer can be reversed and to that end, I hope the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, the Hanover FA, the football clubs in the parish and the various schools Corporal Oates now serves as chairman, will consider seeking audience with the commissioner of police with a view of having this particular transfer reversed. At a time when we so desperately need positive role models, western Jamaica needs a Craig Oates.
While I have no doubt that Corporal Oates has the capacity to make a positive impact wherever he goes, from a purely parochial standpoint, I would want to see him back in western Jamaica. From his position as vice chairman of the JFFWC, I would like to see him in the fore-front of the fight to lift our football out of the abyss into which it has fallen in recent years.
Should his transfer stay in place, it is unlikely that Corporal Oates will be able to serve our football from St. Catherine. I am therefore using this medium to call on the police high command to re-think his transfer and return this sports-loving cop to western Jamaica.
Feel free to send your feed-back to: adrianfrater@hotmail.com
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