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Tuesday, 06 January 2009
Allegations of political interference have surfaced regarding the sudden transfer of the Crime Chief for the St. Thomas Police Division Inspector Carlos Bell.
Controversy is mounting over the transfer in the wake of reports that Mr. Bell was being targeted by the Member of Parliament for West St. Thomas James Robertson.
RJR News sources said it was no secret that Mr. Robertson did not see eye to eye with Inspector Bell who has been attached to the St. Thomas Division for nearly three years.
Our news centre received confirmation on Monday night that Inspector Bell will be transferred effective Monday.
It is reported that Inspector Bell was Monday informed by his superiors that it was in his best interest that he be sent to another Division.
No further reason was reportedly given for the transfer.
Inspector Bell will be assigned to the St. Catherine South Police.
He will be replaced by a Deputy Superintendent from that Division.
It is reported that the move has not gone down well with rank and file police personnel in the St. Thomas and St. Catherine South Divisions.
When contacted Monday night, Mr. Robertson strongly denied any involvement in Inspector Bell's transfer.
He said there was no truth to allegations that his stormy relationship with the St. Thomas Crime Chief had resulted in his reassignment.
Mr. Robertson is currently embroiled in a row with the St. Thomas Police who are preparing to serve him with a summons.
This follows an incident in Heartease on Saturday in which Mr. Robertson is alleged to have verbally abused a team of policemen which went in search of a wanted man.
A claim Mr. Robertson has denied.
And the People's National Party said it will be seeking answers from the Police High Command Tuesday on the reason for the transfer of Inspector Bell from St. Thomas.
The Party said it is extremely worried that political interference could be seeping into the operations of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Peter Bunting, told RJR News that he will be seeking an assurance from the High Command that there was no political link to Inspector Bell's transfer.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/14651/26/
Allegations of political interference have surfaced regarding the sudden transfer of the Crime Chief for the St. Thomas Police Division Inspector Carlos Bell.
Controversy is mounting over the transfer in the wake of reports that Mr. Bell was being targeted by the Member of Parliament for West St. Thomas James Robertson.
RJR News sources said it was no secret that Mr. Robertson did not see eye to eye with Inspector Bell who has been attached to the St. Thomas Division for nearly three years.
Our news centre received confirmation on Monday night that Inspector Bell will be transferred effective Monday.
It is reported that Inspector Bell was Monday informed by his superiors that it was in his best interest that he be sent to another Division.
No further reason was reportedly given for the transfer.
Inspector Bell will be assigned to the St. Catherine South Police.
He will be replaced by a Deputy Superintendent from that Division.
It is reported that the move has not gone down well with rank and file police personnel in the St. Thomas and St. Catherine South Divisions.
When contacted Monday night, Mr. Robertson strongly denied any involvement in Inspector Bell's transfer.
He said there was no truth to allegations that his stormy relationship with the St. Thomas Crime Chief had resulted in his reassignment.
Mr. Robertson is currently embroiled in a row with the St. Thomas Police who are preparing to serve him with a summons.
This follows an incident in Heartease on Saturday in which Mr. Robertson is alleged to have verbally abused a team of policemen which went in search of a wanted man.
A claim Mr. Robertson has denied.
And the People's National Party said it will be seeking answers from the Police High Command Tuesday on the reason for the transfer of Inspector Bell from St. Thomas.
The Party said it is extremely worried that political interference could be seeping into the operations of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Peter Bunting, told RJR News that he will be seeking an assurance from the High Command that there was no political link to Inspector Bell's transfer.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/14651/26/
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