Dr Preston shared that the state of the economy was sure to cause some disruption in society. While addressing the Police Federation Conference, he charged police officers to be ready to deal with whatever challenges arose in a professional manner.

Published Thursday, December 29, 1983

Preston sees crucial role for police in nation’s future

The Jamaica Constabulary Force will be the “central crucial factor” in bringing Jamaica through difficult times ahead, according to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Dr A.Z. Preston.

Guest speaker yesterday morning at the two-day half-yearly conference of the Police Federation at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, Dr Preston elaborated on the difficult times which he saw ahead.

“We would be foolish if we did not anticipate that difficult times lie ahead of us: with an economy that might not begin to show signs of breathing again; with an unprecedented political situation where only one party represents our 60 constituencies across the island, and no Opposition sits in Parliament.

“We would be naïve if we expected that these two challenges to our history as a stable unchangeable society are not going to find expression in conflict on the street.”

Preston said he had all sorts of organisations – media, churches, citizens’ groups, individuals – who were proposed as being the keepers of the peace, order and justice, in the tough debate “into which we now enter”.

“But the crucial factor in bringing Jamaica through to what Jamaica still is, will be the Jamaica Constabulary. It is your presence on the streets, it is your absolute impartiality of seeing justice done between bewildered and often violent bands of partisan citizens.

“It is your proud, justified assumption that you represent the mystery of the law, and that every citizen can turn to you absolute confidence in your power of protecting him or her from abuse, that will guarantee you emerging as one of the world’s most respected, most eagerly consulted police forces.

“A nation’s destiny has been given to you to make such a creative response that all over the globe police officers will look, learn and say enviously: 'I wish I had been there in that hour'.

Mr Preston said he was confident that the Force would discharge those responsibilities in a manner that would increase his appreciation of the justice it had guarded for well over a century.

“I am comforted by the thought that the just and decent future of my children and myself are in your keeping,” he declared.

“You have long earned that confidence and that sense of comfort from your fellow citizens. You will be tested in the coming years as you have never been tested before.

“If you meet the rest, as I think and deeply believe in the manner you will, you will earn such reputation and regard that men and women from every level of society will compete for the distinction of being recruited into the Jamaica Constabulary.

“My country’s future is in your keeping. I beg you do not let me have to regret my words today.”

Mr Preston commended to the Force the charge of the prophet Isaiah to the rulers of then Judah: “Learn to do well, seek judgement, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow”.

Stressing the importance of the peace, order and decency which the Force created, Dr Preston said that it was here perhaps that a charge was laid upon them which not even Isaiah had not mentioned.

“I should be able to go about my easy, peaceful day, taking you for granted. I am entitled to assume that each and every one of you will perform – as a matter of routine – extraordinary acts of courage and responsibility, set extraordinary examples of justice on the ground.”

The Force, he said, had upheld not only peace and order but a confidence in justice prevailing in “one of the free world’s most opinionated, polarised and enthusiastically polarised societies”.

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