Tweet
COMMISSIONER of Police Owen Ellington has decided that no contribution from any source will be accepted for or on behalf of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) until a month after the next general elections.
Ellington’s decision came after consultation with the minister of national security, and following concerns raised by the Opposition and members of the public after Jamaica Labour Party candidate Danville Walker attempted to donate two motorcycles to the Mandeville police.
Walker is campaigning to be Member of Parliament for the Central Manchester seat.
The commissioner said last week that he received written approval for the JCF to accept a gift of two motorcycles from a Kingston based automobile dealer for assignment to the Mandeville police.
“The Commissioner's Office communicated with the Superintendent of Police in charge of Manchester authorising him to accept the motorcycles at a formal handing over ceremony on Thursday of last week,” he said in a statement.
“It was subsequently revealed that the motorcycles were being contributed at the request of someone campaigning for political office in Central Manchester. Consequently, the Superintendent in charge of Manchester was advised not to take part in the handing over ceremony for the bikes.”
The management of the auto dealership was also advised, he said, that the police would not take part in the ceremony. Both bikes were then delivered at the office of the Commissioner by agents of the dealer and were received by staff, and not the Commissioner of Police as was reported in the media, Ellington said.
“Calls have come from several quarters for a public statement on the matter. As Commissioner, I have refrained from commenting before getting an opportunity to discuss same with the minister, whose responsibility it is to approve contributions to the JCF and who was out of the country on official business.”
He said he had the opportunity to speak to the minister yesterday, at which time he shared concerns expressed by members of the public about the implications of political aspirants making or being instrumental in securing contributions to the JCF at this time.
“We agreed that those concerns should not be ignored,” he said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1dnMFTf3C
Ellington’s decision came after consultation with the minister of national security, and following concerns raised by the Opposition and members of the public after Jamaica Labour Party candidate Danville Walker attempted to donate two motorcycles to the Mandeville police.
Walker is campaigning to be Member of Parliament for the Central Manchester seat.
The commissioner said last week that he received written approval for the JCF to accept a gift of two motorcycles from a Kingston based automobile dealer for assignment to the Mandeville police.
“The Commissioner's Office communicated with the Superintendent of Police in charge of Manchester authorising him to accept the motorcycles at a formal handing over ceremony on Thursday of last week,” he said in a statement.
“It was subsequently revealed that the motorcycles were being contributed at the request of someone campaigning for political office in Central Manchester. Consequently, the Superintendent in charge of Manchester was advised not to take part in the handing over ceremony for the bikes.”
The management of the auto dealership was also advised, he said, that the police would not take part in the ceremony. Both bikes were then delivered at the office of the Commissioner by agents of the dealer and were received by staff, and not the Commissioner of Police as was reported in the media, Ellington said.
“Calls have come from several quarters for a public statement on the matter. As Commissioner, I have refrained from commenting before getting an opportunity to discuss same with the minister, whose responsibility it is to approve contributions to the JCF and who was out of the country on official business.”
He said he had the opportunity to speak to the minister yesterday, at which time he shared concerns expressed by members of the public about the implications of political aspirants making or being instrumental in securing contributions to the JCF at this time.
“We agreed that those concerns should not be ignored,” he said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1dnMFTf3C
Comment