Top cop mum on alleged sex-for-promotion scheme
POLICE Commissioner George Quallo was mum yesterday when asked about claims of an alleged sex-for-promotion scheme within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
Reports about senior officers demanding sex from their colleagues in exchange for being promoted surfaced last week following a call from National Security Minister Robert Montague for Quallo and the Police Service Commission to promote officers, noting that there are several vacancies.
However, when the commissioner was asked about the issue yesterday, he refused to comment.
As to whether or not there would be a probe into the allegations, he said an investigation will be launched once a complaint has been lodged.
“As soon as we have a complainant, as soon as we have someone come forward to say they are the victim of any complains whatsoever, whether sexual harassment or otherwise. We can’t operate on hearsay, we just want persons to come forward.
“That’s why we say over and over, if you are a victim, make a report. If you don’t want to make the report through mainstream there are systems in place. There is a grievance procedure; once you initiate the grievance procedure we will take it from there,” the commissioner said.
Meanwhile, when Minister Montague was asked about the allegations, he said the matter was an operational issue for the commissioner.
“I would be overreaching if I went and dealt with it,” he said.
On the matter of vacancies within the JCF, Montague reiterated that Government has the money to pay if the vacancies are filled.
“You can’t have an organisation that has vacancies and you are not treating properly with these vacancies,” he said.
— Tanesha Mundle