Dear Editor,

Whereas I agree with the view that Jamaica needs a strong leader, I think we need to be clear about what sort of strength it is that we require, as there are many interpretations of the word ’strong’.

I once had the displeasure of interacting with a well-known don and realised that the only quality he had was the fact that he is a bully and the solution to dealing with bullies is to stand up to them and make sure that they are fully aware that you are not afraid of them … more

Businessman, Garnett Pellington, who was arrested along with Robinson and two others, was also charged with bribery, after he allegedly offered the police $200,000 to release him.

According to police reports, at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, one Julian Dillon allegedly arrived at a business place in Sydenham Park on a bicycle. He reportedly brandished a gun, and was immediately challenged by a plainclothes policeman who shot him. The gun was seized, and Dillon died of his injuries yesterday morning.

As news spread of his death, residents blocked the streets in protest, claiming that Dillon was killed in cold blood. The police’s Bureau of Special Investigations are reportedly investigating the matter.

Police implicated in lottery scam, police implicated in car-stealing racket, police implicated in gunrunning, police implicated in drug smuggling, etc. How then can we ever hope to solve crime when so many of the persons who have sworn to serve and protect are doing the opposite?

Dear Editor,

We read about them from time to time, these policemen on bail awaiting their day in court, who take advantage of their US visa and their unseeing, nonchalant superiors, to flee to sanctuary and a new start in America. I have often wondered how many times this would have to happen before the constabulary top brass would intercede to do the obvious, but I was never that lucky. It almost seemed like they wanted the corrupt cops to make good their escape … more

Dear Editor,

The Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party campaigned on ridding the island of corruption and many Jamaicans, eager for a change, bought his political pitch. Alas, the more things changed the more they remain the same.

Police corruption is still rife and there is little evidence that many in the Jamaica Constabulary Force want it to be changed or transformed into an honest, decent body of professionals. A month and a half ago I paid a visit to the Greater Portmore police station and I watched a head count taking place in the cells. In fact, I saw the activity of counting take place twice … more

According to police reports, members of the TCND were destroying marijuana and cocaine yesterday as part of routine operations following the conclusion of court cases. It was discovered that several parcels of cocaine were missing. They were later found in the possession of the four civilian workers.

“In its ongoing effort to clean up its performance, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has decided to set up a unit of its anti-corruption branch in St James, one of the most crime-infested parishes in Jamaica,” … more

Inspector Lloyd Wilson and constables Derrick Roach and Jermaine Bennett, all previously assigned to the Central Police Station, were charged with murder for the fatal shooting of Blake in premises along Ransford Road in downtown Kingston. They asserted that they went in search of Blake, and were forced to defend themselves after being fired upon by him. At the time of his demise, Blake was wanted on a number of charges, including murder.

One of the witness’ statements reportedly substantiated the defendants’ version of how Blake met his demise, while the missing witness (who happened to be  Blake’s common-law wife), did not say in her statements that she witnessed the actual shooting incident. As a result of these factors, the Crown noted that the case could not be tried by way of the Evidence Amendment Act (which allows trials to proceed on the written statements of absent eyewitnesses), and noted that it therefore had no evidence against the men.

The police believe the two men are members of a gang that has been operating in sections of Portmore. The police’s latest information indicates that Constable Cuff’s murder was possibly linked to an ongoing feud between two violent criminal gangs in Portmore – the Uprising and the Umbrella gangs. It is believed that the men carried out the attack on the constable and his house, thinking he was a rival gang member.