US report urges Government of Jamaica to provide more support for police commissioner

The Bruce Golding administration has been challenged to provide more support for Police Commissioner Owen Ellington and the state agencies dealing with corruption as part of efforts to tackle the major problems facing Jamaica.

In its 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), the United States warned that gang violence and corruption continue to pose a serious threat to the social stability in Jamaica and the region.

"We encourage the GOJ (Government of Jamaica) to increase its collaboration with the USG (United States Government) and other regional partners, to adopt the proposed comprehensive anti-gang law, and to maintain and enhance its efforts to detect, prosecute, and punish corruption," the US State Department said in the report published yesterday.

"Firm and unequivocal GOJ support for the commissioner of police to implement the reform recommendations of the Ministry of National Security's Strategic Review of the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) will help to ensure a professional and non-corrupt organisation," added the report.

Facing roadblocks

The State Department also repeated a concern it expressed last year about the lack of support for the police commissioner.

According to the report, Ellington, like his predecessor Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, is facing "internal, judicial, and political roadblocks that have hindered efforts to reform the police".

The report added: "The commissioner has taken a strong public stance against corruption and is continuing to implement and expand the strategic reform process that was initiated by the former JCF commissioner.

"However, it is unclear whether the commissioner will secure the necessary legislative and executive support, both in funding and political backing, to make significant and enduring progress in combating police corruption and transforming the institution."

The US State Department applauded entities such as the Customs Department, the Office of the Contractor General, the Office of the Police Commissioner and the Tax Administration Department for their efforts at stamping out corruption but warned that this was not enough.

"The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption; however, corruption is entrenched, widespread, and compounded by a judicial system that is poorly equipped to handle complex criminal prosecutions in a timely manner," the report charged.

There has been no response yet from the Golding administration to the latest INCSR.