Bodyguard boost
Published:Thursday | June 3, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter
THE SECURITY detail for more than 60 prominent Jamaicans has been significantly increased since the extradition request for alleged drug baron Christopher 'Dudus' Coke gripped public attention, stretching the resources of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) Protective Services Branch.
Personnel at the branch, who requested anonymity because officialdom might bring sanctions over the divulgence of sensitive information, told The Gleaner that members of the political directorate, opposition parliamentarians, civic-society lobbyists, top-ranking civil servants and other private-sector officials have had security around them beefed up.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds was tight-lipped about the developments, refusing to give away much when quizzed by The Gleaner yesterday afternoon.
While admitting that additional resources were being committed to the protection of such individuals, he said the JCF does not discuss security arrangements.
"The JCF is committed to providing excellent service to all Jamaicans," he said.
The Gleaner, however, under-stands that since the extradition issue came to light, the police have had to double their work rate.
"The fact is that every single person that stands up and talks in Parliament got threatened, directly or indirectly. Everyone that opened their mouth inside and outside of Parliament got threatened left, right and centre," the source said.
The Protective Services Branch has had to reassess the threat levels of several persons. These persons were assigned or reassigned protection after criticising the Government's handling of the extradition saga.
The crisis came to a head weeks ago when the prime minister admitted that he had sanctioned, in his role as party leader, a United States law firm to lobby the US government on the extradition. Public outrage forced him to apologise to the nation and precipitated the decision to sign the extradition request and the warrant for Coke's arrest.
Gunmen barricaded Coke's Tivoli Gardens fortress where they showcased their firepower in a three-day gun battle with the security forces.
Among those reportedly threatened in relation to the extradition were human-rights activists Dr Carolyn Gomes, Susan Goffe and David Wong Ken, all of Jamaicans for Justice.
Strictly confidential
When contacted, opposition backbencher Dr Peter Phillips, who has been particularly strident in pressing for Coke to be extradited, said he did not want to speak about his security detail, as he did not want to put those protecting him at further risk.
"Suffice it to say, the JCF has been very responsive to the perceived threat assessments, but I am not going into detail," he said.
Peter Bunting, opposition spokesman on national security, also did not want to discuss his security make-up.
"This is one of the things I do not want to publicise. Security arrangements have to be kept confidential. I will leave it up to the judgement of those who are trained to make that call. Needless to say, I am comfortable with the security arrangements," he said.
Bunting, however, said that the current high-tension situation would not stop him from speaking out or saying what was right.
The Protective Services Branch, which is a low-visibility component of the force, has more than 200 members on its staff. The unit, which provides protection for VIPs, government ministers and members of parliament, has also bolstered its numbers from other departments in the constabulary.
Hinds declined comment on that claim, saying merely that he supervised all operational areas of the force.