I have a question for the National Security Minister: Why
does he seemingly reject the CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security
(IMPACS) but embraces the Regional Security System (RSS) which both fall under
his portfolio of National Security?
Will his “dichotomous position” undermine
and compromise his local effectiveness and his regional credibility?
I will not endeavour to lecture the minister on any of
the sub-regional/regional initiatives of which we are signatories; he is surely
well-placed to appreciate the interface between IMPACS and RSS and indeed to
reconcile them; otherwise, he might well resign as Minister for our National
Security.
I am however perturbed by his confusion between two
vastly distinctive initiatives and by his “equation” of the two. I believe he
knows better; but instead chose to play a dangerous game with our national
security.
A tangential issue arising out of ORC and IMPACS is perhaps
an urgent need for the re-education and perhaps “re-engineering” of our police
force. He might want to begin by doing research on the interface between morality
and competence in the context of the operations of the force.
And because he embraces transparency to the extent that
he does, I hope he will share his findings with us. I would particularly like the
research to probe how it came to the point that IMPACS which was a consequence
of ORC which involved only a handful of law men has been generalised to the
entire force and can so significantly erode the morale, confidence and competence
of the force. I can however understand that our ineptitude and excuses in
dealing with ORC led to the Leahy nightmare. It is entirely our fault!
Part of the terms of reference for the research might
also be to help redefine the concept of “resource” and to seek ways to reorient
the officers accordingly.
I hope the findings of the research point out that “resource”
is not necessarily all muscle and physical tools/equipment as the president of
the Police Welfare Association and his sympathisers would suggest. Resource
also includes elements of intellectual and strategic thinking and an “intelligence”
network on the ground. Indeed, it is the latter that may be most effective in
the apprehension of the criminals.
The tone and drift of a seemingly tired Police
Association president - along with the sudden spike in crime - suggest that we need
to get the Leahy Law off our backs urgently or find an alternative for the
development our police resources before it’s too late.
. . . but how can we do so when the Minister entrusted
with the mandate of National Security has not observed the basics in the
equation.
You nailed it as always!
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