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Church supporting the police
published: Tuesday | February 20, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody j4lQv="true">
Devon Dick
Recently, the Meadhaven Ministers' Fraternal hosted a meeting with Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, Deputy Commissioner Jevene Bent, Assistant Commissioner Novelette Grant and other members of the High Command at the Boulevard Baptist Church. The meeting, the brainchild of the chairman of the Fraternal, Rev. Dr. Sam Green, aimed to ascertain ways in which the ministers of religion and their congregations could support the police in the fight against crime.
I recall when I was a pastor in Sandy Bay, Hanover, we started a monthly visit to the inmates in the jail. One day, a policeman asked me why we aren't helping the police too. Subsequently, we visited the police station and viewed the awful conditions under which the police worked and lived. We later donated some fans and other things to help them. The Church in Jamaica has had a history of supporting the police force with many pastors ministering at police stations as station pastors. It is time to deepen the cooperation.
Access to fingerprints
The police have called on the church to support them having access to fingerprints which would help in the fight against crime. The Director of Elections and the President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce have already made this call.
This is a good idea. Jamaicans travelling to the U.S.A. have their fingerprints taken by Uncle Sam so why can't we use the fingerprints obtained for elections in the fight against crime? We have spent millions of dollars to get fingerprints so that it can be used twice every five years. This country is not serious about our dealing with the crime monster, otherwise, we would change the Electoral Law and allow the police access to this database.
The nexus
The police asked the clergy to support the legislation before the Parliament, which would require persons with great wealth to explain how they acquired it. This would dent the nexus between the drug trade, politicians, crime and lawyers.
The Commissioner stood by his predictions about the bloody election and convinced us that he knows what he is talking about. The Fraternal pledged to call together the MPs and caretakers in the area to ensure that General Elections would be peaceful. The Fraternal did this in the last election and all persons attended the meetings except one MP.
The issue of the police pay package came up. If security is our number one problem, then based on market forces, persons involved in crime-fighting should be some of the better-paid persons in society. It is either we pay the police better or allow them to engage in legitimate authorised business once there is no conflict of interest.
And since the Commissioner is not likely to get an improved pay package soon, then at least give him an Order of Jamaica award. In England, the Commissioner is titled Sir Ian Blair. Let us elevate the status of the office of Commissioner and make it mandatory that the holder gets an OJ and be addressed as 'honourable'. Why is it that it seems only businessmen and politicians have been given such titles and no serving Commissioner has ever gotten an OJ?
Finally, the issue of fear in the society was discussed. At this time we need people of courage. Tomorrow, the Jamaica Baptist Union starts its 157th Annual Assembly under the appropriate theme of 'Boldness in Mission'. The context of the mission indeed demands boldness because of a high murder rate. Therefore, the Church needs to be bold in its support of the police in fighting crime.
[I]Rev. Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Ch
published: Tuesday | February 20, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody j4lQv="true">
Devon Dick
Recently, the Meadhaven Ministers' Fraternal hosted a meeting with Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, Deputy Commissioner Jevene Bent, Assistant Commissioner Novelette Grant and other members of the High Command at the Boulevard Baptist Church. The meeting, the brainchild of the chairman of the Fraternal, Rev. Dr. Sam Green, aimed to ascertain ways in which the ministers of religion and their congregations could support the police in the fight against crime.
I recall when I was a pastor in Sandy Bay, Hanover, we started a monthly visit to the inmates in the jail. One day, a policeman asked me why we aren't helping the police too. Subsequently, we visited the police station and viewed the awful conditions under which the police worked and lived. We later donated some fans and other things to help them. The Church in Jamaica has had a history of supporting the police force with many pastors ministering at police stations as station pastors. It is time to deepen the cooperation.
Access to fingerprints
The police have called on the church to support them having access to fingerprints which would help in the fight against crime. The Director of Elections and the President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce have already made this call.
This is a good idea. Jamaicans travelling to the U.S.A. have their fingerprints taken by Uncle Sam so why can't we use the fingerprints obtained for elections in the fight against crime? We have spent millions of dollars to get fingerprints so that it can be used twice every five years. This country is not serious about our dealing with the crime monster, otherwise, we would change the Electoral Law and allow the police access to this database.
The nexus
The police asked the clergy to support the legislation before the Parliament, which would require persons with great wealth to explain how they acquired it. This would dent the nexus between the drug trade, politicians, crime and lawyers.
The Commissioner stood by his predictions about the bloody election and convinced us that he knows what he is talking about. The Fraternal pledged to call together the MPs and caretakers in the area to ensure that General Elections would be peaceful. The Fraternal did this in the last election and all persons attended the meetings except one MP.
The issue of the police pay package came up. If security is our number one problem, then based on market forces, persons involved in crime-fighting should be some of the better-paid persons in society. It is either we pay the police better or allow them to engage in legitimate authorised business once there is no conflict of interest.
And since the Commissioner is not likely to get an improved pay package soon, then at least give him an Order of Jamaica award. In England, the Commissioner is titled Sir Ian Blair. Let us elevate the status of the office of Commissioner and make it mandatory that the holder gets an OJ and be addressed as 'honourable'. Why is it that it seems only businessmen and politicians have been given such titles and no serving Commissioner has ever gotten an OJ?
Finally, the issue of fear in the society was discussed. At this time we need people of courage. Tomorrow, the Jamaica Baptist Union starts its 157th Annual Assembly under the appropriate theme of 'Boldness in Mission'. The context of the mission indeed demands boldness because of a high murder rate. Therefore, the Church needs to be bold in its support of the police in fighting crime.
[I]Rev. Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Ch