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Thursday, 29 May 2008
Prime Minister Bruce Golding has responded to criticisms that his administration as failed to present a crime plan as well as claims that it is clueless about how to quell the current murder spree.
Mr. Golding said the job of developing a national crime plan is not his but solely that of the Commissioner of Police.
In his first public statement on the crime wave gripping the country, Prime Minister Golding said a response plan was something the police had to create without involvement from politicians.
As was expected, the issue of crime was the dominant topic of discussion for callers who participated in the monthly radio programme "Jamaica House Live" which is hosted by Mr. Golding.
Responding to questions about how the Government intends to deal with the worsening crime problem, the Prime Minister quashed the notion that it was the administration's responsibility to devise strategies.
"When you're talking about a crime plan, in terms of the strategies, that has to come from the Commissioner of Police, we can't interfere with that. Under the law, the amendment to Section Two of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Act gives the Commissioner total control over operational stuff."
"What we have to do is make sure that we provide the policy framework and the resources to support the crime plan," said Mr. Golding.
Casting stones
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to launch a stinging attack on former Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips who has been criticising the Government for remaining silent on the crime problem.
He accused Dr. Phillips of playing politics with an issue of national concern.
"I don't want to sound partisan this evening but Dr. Phillips must be careful how he gets on that strident approach because under his watch as Minister of National Security, 7,437 people were murdered."
"This is not a political problem, not a JLP of PNP problem, it's a problem for which we all have to find common cause," said Mr. Golding.
He hinted that in coming days steps will be taken to address the crime situation.
I was wrong
The Prime Minister also apologized to rank and file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
There were rumblings in the JCF regarding Mr. Golding's response to a question regarding police killings during his interview on BBC Television programme "Hard TALK" last week.
Some members had complained that the Prime Minister's response had put the Force in a bad light.
But Mr. Golding said he never meant to offend the police.
He said they took offence to his pronouncements because it showed that his failure to differentiate between police killings and police murders was a virtual acceptance of the arguments put to him by the programme's host.
"In that respect, the Police Federation is right, in hindsight after listening to it, it's a distinction that should have been made and I should have made it. Therefore, I want apologize to the Police Force for having failed to point out to the interviewer that there is a difference between killings by the police and calling the police murderers," said Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
Conscience vote in Parliament on hanging
Mr. Golding has indicated that the administration is speeding up plans for the resumption of hanging in Jamaica.
He has signaled that the issue is close to being put to a conscience vote in Parliament.
"We will finally decide whether we're going to retain hanging or abolish it."
Prime Minister Golding said he has directed the Attorney General to draft that resolution that will be taken to and voted on in Parliament.
"If the results of that vote that will be driven by conscience say we must abolish hanging then we will abolish it and if the results say we must retain hanging then we going to oil up the gallows," said Mr. Golding.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding has responded to criticisms that his administration as failed to present a crime plan as well as claims that it is clueless about how to quell the current murder spree.
Mr. Golding said the job of developing a national crime plan is not his but solely that of the Commissioner of Police.
In his first public statement on the crime wave gripping the country, Prime Minister Golding said a response plan was something the police had to create without involvement from politicians.
As was expected, the issue of crime was the dominant topic of discussion for callers who participated in the monthly radio programme "Jamaica House Live" which is hosted by Mr. Golding.
Responding to questions about how the Government intends to deal with the worsening crime problem, the Prime Minister quashed the notion that it was the administration's responsibility to devise strategies.
"When you're talking about a crime plan, in terms of the strategies, that has to come from the Commissioner of Police, we can't interfere with that. Under the law, the amendment to Section Two of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Act gives the Commissioner total control over operational stuff."
"What we have to do is make sure that we provide the policy framework and the resources to support the crime plan," said Mr. Golding.
Casting stones
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to launch a stinging attack on former Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips who has been criticising the Government for remaining silent on the crime problem.
He accused Dr. Phillips of playing politics with an issue of national concern.
"I don't want to sound partisan this evening but Dr. Phillips must be careful how he gets on that strident approach because under his watch as Minister of National Security, 7,437 people were murdered."
"This is not a political problem, not a JLP of PNP problem, it's a problem for which we all have to find common cause," said Mr. Golding.
He hinted that in coming days steps will be taken to address the crime situation.
I was wrong
The Prime Minister also apologized to rank and file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
There were rumblings in the JCF regarding Mr. Golding's response to a question regarding police killings during his interview on BBC Television programme "Hard TALK" last week.
Some members had complained that the Prime Minister's response had put the Force in a bad light.
But Mr. Golding said he never meant to offend the police.
He said they took offence to his pronouncements because it showed that his failure to differentiate between police killings and police murders was a virtual acceptance of the arguments put to him by the programme's host.
"In that respect, the Police Federation is right, in hindsight after listening to it, it's a distinction that should have been made and I should have made it. Therefore, I want apologize to the Police Force for having failed to point out to the interviewer that there is a difference between killings by the police and calling the police murderers," said Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
Conscience vote in Parliament on hanging
Mr. Golding has indicated that the administration is speeding up plans for the resumption of hanging in Jamaica.
He has signaled that the issue is close to being put to a conscience vote in Parliament.
"We will finally decide whether we're going to retain hanging or abolish it."
Prime Minister Golding said he has directed the Attorney General to draft that resolution that will be taken to and voted on in Parliament.
"If the results of that vote that will be driven by conscience say we must abolish hanging then we will abolish it and if the results say we must retain hanging then we going to oil up the gallows," said Mr. Golding.
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