Jamaica’s justice minister, Delroy Chuck, has revealed that the cash-strapped Government currently owes almost $400 million in civil-suit judgments, and that most of the money owed by the Government in civil suits was awarded in cases where the court decided that the police had abused their authority … more here

The prosecution had alleged that the policemen shot Thomas (who was 18 years old at the time) twice at Cruiser Banks gully, off Grants Pen Road on September 28, 2007 and then placed him, while still alive, in their service vehicle, with the alleged goal of carrying him to the hospital. However it was alleged that while they were on their way, the policemen shot Thomas several more times inside the vehicle, also damaging the motor car.

The prosecution claimed that the policemen, in an attempt to pervert the course of justice, later took the vehicle to a garage in order to repair the damage that had been caused by the bullets.

The panel includes:
Terrence Williams, INDECOM Commissioner
Justin Felice, Assistant Commissioner of Police – Anti-Corruption branch
Dr. The Hon. Carolyn Gomes (OJ), Executive Director – Jamaicans For Justice

The public forum will include the screening of the documentary ‘Victims Voices’, a feature which chronicles the struggles of three women who have fought painstakingly to get justice for their sons who were killed under suspicious circumstances by members of the security forces. Presentations from the panelists will be followed by a question and answer segment.

When? Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where? Jamaica Pegasus Hotel (Montego Suite), 81 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5

To RSVP, please call Davina Gayle at 755-4524.

The court heard that Powell was shot and killed on Bob Marley Boulevard, Cooreville Gardens, Kingston 20.Two witnesses testified that on the night of the incident they, along with Powell, accompanied a female friend to Cooreville Gardens. While they were there, Powell began calling to a woman which caused an argument between him and a policeman who resided in the community. During the altercation, the policeman called for assistance from Edwards who was nearby.

Powell and his two companions boarded a motor vehicle and, while it was moving off, the accused fired shots in the direction of the car. Powell was shot twice in the head, and the motor car crashed into a wall. The two witnesses said they ran from the motor car and sought assistance from policemen in a patrol car. The police accompanied them to the scene and took Powell to hospital.

Edwards in his defence said that one of the men who sought the assistance of the policemen in the patrol car had opened fire at him and he returned the fire.

Fast-forward to 2011, where a no-nonsense senior superintendent of police – Linette Williams-Martin – is determined to tackle the problem head-on, and she is already getting solid proposals and support from persons who want Montego Bay to return to being the Friendly City … more here

A total of five scholarships and fifty bursaries are awarded each year, with increases to eight (8) Smart Savers Scholarships and sixty (60) bursaries instead of the usual five (5) and fifty (50) at times based on the number of students who had averages in the high nineties. This speaks volume to the hard work, dedication and patience of Smart Savers and their parents, and the Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union Limited (JPOL) believe in rewarding hard work at all times.

Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union scholarships are valued at Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) per annum over a five year period and bursaries are valued at Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) as a one off payment. In most of the preceding years, they have given a total of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in scholarships, bursaries and financial assistance for educational purposes.

One of the Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union’s greatest commitments is to education, as they believe education is the key to success, be it financial or otherwise. This is a continuous process, and so, from the early childhood level the credit union has shown its support by adopting five basic schools, one in each of their five branch territories spread throughout the island. Their contribution to them, is not only monetary, as staff seek to mentor and assist in every way possible, including taking them on field trips.

At the tertiary level, the Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union offers two scholarships to the children of members, in honor of two of the credit union’s founding fathers – namely the Leslie McDonald and L.A. Buchanan Scholarship tenable at the University of the West Indies and Northern Caribbean University respectively. These scholarships have a combined value of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) each year, and continue throughout the course, provided a B+ grade is attained.

The Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union’s assistance continues by way of education loans, unsecured and at lower than average interests rates. Presently, a pool of Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) has been set aside for the sole purpose of assisting to offset back to school expenses. Each member who qualifies can borrow up to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for this purpose.

The Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union Limited (JPOL) is ‘committed to economic success’ of its members and their families, not just financially, but educationally. Undoubtedly, there are no better routes to financial success, than through education.

For more, and current information, please visit the Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union online at jpccu.com.jm.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Justin Felice (head of the Ant-Corruption Branch), “The conference is about sharing experiences on the status of law enforcement anti-corruption activities that are currently taking place in the region … It is also about a declaration of support. About international partners supporting our law-enforcement agencies coming together and trying to work in synergy because there is limited resources available … I think since 2007 there has been significant improvements in Jamaica in respect of the way that corruption is being tackled, and I think some of the other Caribbean countries would be pleased to find out how we did it.”

The conference will also reportedly be used as the launch pad for a proposed Regional Law Enforcement Anti-Corruption Network. This new regional law-enforcement network could be operational soon, as efforts intensify to address the problem of corruption across CARICOM.

Last night, the police high command described the attacks as “vicious and unprovoked” and said they indicated “the viciousness and the extraordinary lengths to which criminals from the Clansman gang will go in order to perpetuate their criminal way of life”. They said that despite the attacks, the resolve of the Jamaica Constabulary Force remains strong, and that “… the police will not cower in the face of these attacks and will respond appropriately and professionally”. The Police High Command also praised “the bravery and the commitment of members who came under sustained gunfire … and who were able to repel the criminals.“