We often beat upon the security forces, in particular the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and justifiably so. The fact is some members of the security forces have done some god-awful things to dozens of citizens. I am very optimistic, based on evidence, however, that a new JCF is slowing but surely emerging.

Positive shifts at Up-Park Camp have not escaped my notice either. I will touch on those in another piece.

I do not think we give Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang enough credit for the massive improvements in the security forces. The JCF today, if we are to be fair, is not the force which cemented the nomenclature “Babylon” (oppressor) in the 1960/70s. Based on evidence we have today, there is a much more caring, responsive, resourced, and better trained police service.

The massive investments in the working conditions of policemen and women, especially over the last 8 years, is beginning to show good results, I believe. Information in the public domain says a total of 163 police stations and other JCF facilities were renovated over the period 2016 to present. Six new stations have been constructed over the same period. This is a good look, as we say on the streets.

There are some severely mean-spirited individuals among us who will, doubtless, say Chang does not deserve an ounce of credit because he is just doing what we pay him to do and, besides, he needs to deliver 1,000 times more than his present output. They should remember, excruciatingly difficult as it maybe, that our political leaders are made of flesh and blood too.

There are some who will doubtless say, for example, the technological improvements in the JCF are simply a reflection of the times we are living in. I suggest they have a talk with some of our brothers and sisters from neighbouring islands on that score.

I believe that Dr Chang has the second-hardest job in the Cabinet. The hardest is that of prime minister, followed by that education minister, then that of finance and the public service minister, followed by health and wellness, and then the transport portfolio.

Some among us who suffer with convenient amnesia and also unjustified mean-spiritedness doubtless do not remember awful instances like this. In August 2012 this newspaper published this frightening exposé: ‘9 cops to 1 car — Police have only 1,300 working patrol vehicles for entire island’.

The details revealed, among other things: “A Corporate Area policewoman on patrol came close to serious injury or, possibly, death last week. That’s not an uncommon occurrence in crime-plagued Jamaica. However, in this case, the frightening experience came not at the hands of gunmen, but when the door of her patrol vehicle fell off in the middle of traffic.

“A few days later a member of the motoring public who observed the dangerous and embarrassing incident told the Observer that one of the cops travelling in the dilapidated service vehicle remounted the door, but had to use his arm, which he flung through the window, to keep it closed the entire return journey back to base.

“While a senior officer at that police station has confirmed the incident to the Sunday Observer, he declined to be quoted on an issue that has become shameful and a thorn in the side of the police — the rotting shell that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) fleet has become. The JCF simply doesn’t have enough vehicles to serve the country.

“Angella Patterson, who is the civilian head of the JCF’s Corporate Services, in response to this paper’s queries, said the JCF now has only 1,300 working patrol vehicles to serve 19 geographic divisions and protect a civilian population of over two million people.

” ‘We have about 1,300 active vehicles now on the road, about 1,800 in total, but 1,300 actively on the road. There are about 350 vehicles that could be made roadworthy with parts. The estimate is between that $20 million and $30 million in parts would make those vehicles roadworthy,’ she added.

“Patterson admitted that Jamaica is woefully nowhere near the international standard for the ratio of service vehicles to personnel. That standard is one service vehicle for every four police officers.

“That means, in Jamaica’s case, with the 1,300 vehicles currently making up the JCF’s fleet and the approximately 12,000 members of the constabulary, the ratio is more like nine cops to a vehicle.

“According to one Sunday Observer source, most station chiefs count themselves lucky if they have even one vehicle that is roadworthy enough be sent out on patrol daily. He said that, in most cases, there is a rotation or tag-team approach with the few vehicles that are available for use, with one team having to wait several hours until another team returns with the service vehicle to base before going on the road to work.” (Sunday Observer, August 26, 2012)

Admittedly all police stations do not yet have the full complement of vehicles they need. But the massive injection of capital into improving the mobility of the JCF in recent times has put the travesty reported above into our rear-view mirror. Dr Chang deserves credit.

Information in the public domain says the Andrew Holness-led Administration has invested more into advanced training and the building of relationships with our international security partners than any other.

Last Sunday, I expressed great dissatisfaction here that, at the time of writing, the criminal who fired the bullets which killed seven-year-old Justin Perry and nine-year-old Nahcoliva Smith, students of Chetwood Memorial Primary School in St James, unfortunately was still at large. I noted that, “Someone has given him refuge. He and like-minded monsters have made up their minds as to what kind of Jamaica they want.”

I am happy today because, last Sunday this newspaper reported that a person of interest had been apprehended by the police. I am glad he has been taken alive and will have his day in court. I suspect he is a veritable treasure trove of intelligence. The suspect was caught at a guest house in St James, according to some credible media reports. He does not sound like a man who is feeling for cash. Or maybe he has benefactors.

Those who have mounted a crusade against the use of the state of emergency (SOE) as an effective crime crime-fighting tool got another jolt of reality last Monday. The front page of this newspaper roared: ‘St James calm — Assistant commissioner says no major crimes in parish since recent SOE’.

It noted, among other things: “Commander of the Area One police Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Chambers says no major crime has been recorded in St James since a state of public emergency (SOE) was declared for the parish on Wednesday, November 8.

” ‘The state of emergency, like others that we have had, has given us very, very, very good results. In the past we have had state of emergencies [during which] we have had major crimes, though reduced, but we have had major crimes committed. What we have had here now, since this state of public emergency in the parish was declared, there has not been one major crime no murder, no shooting, no rape, no aggravated assault. No major crime has been committed since the inception of this last state of public emergency. We are now going over nine days,’ ACP Chambers told reporters on Saturday.”

Some, for reasons obvious to anyone with a modicum of discernment, will still oppose the use of SOEs. I believe the Administration should continue to use the SOE tool. Some will say, “Cho, when the SOE in St James comes to an end the violence will return, so it makes no sense.” They are, in my view, imbibers of a fatalistic brew. I do not drink from that poisoned cauldron. From it some become so inebriated that they cannot comprehend that even a temporary respite from the grubby tentacles of murderers, rapists and extortionists is worth the investment of an SOE. I believe we should continue to work with what works. I am not singular in this respect.

Consider this: ‘Salt Spring residents call for SOE extension’. The Gleaner news item of last Tuesday gave these and related details: “Residents of Salt Spring, St James, and its environs are calling for an extension of the state of emergency (SOE) in the parish, which will officially end at midnight on Tuesday.

“The enhanced security measure was implemented for a 14-day period, starting November 8. However, with no serious crimes — such as murder, aggravated assault and robbery — recorded in the parish in the first 12 days, many residents are breathing a sigh of relief.

“They want the measure to continue until at least December 31…”

These are people who live in one of the most violent hot spots in St James and Jamaica, speaking. Yet some peoples who have never even visited Salt Spring and similar vulnerable communities are lobbying tooth and nail for the SOE not to be extended. I believe the Holness Administration should listen to the cries of Salt Spring’s residents.

The leader of the Opposition and president of People’s National Party (PNP) Mark Golding continues to put the Administration into a vicious chokehold. The people of Jamaica will judge him. Is the PNP going to continue to play political football with the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our land?

The PNP continues to defend their opposition to SOEs on the ground that the measure tramples upon human rights. Whose human rights? Is Golding protecting the human rights of vulnerable women and children who are assaulted by criminals? I think the PNP’s continued opposition to SOEs is an accelerant.

Abusive dominion

The torrential rains for the better part of 48 hours recently should be another wake-up call for all Jamaicans. We continue to mistake the biblical instruction in Genesis that we should have dominion over the Earth. That instruction implied a symbiotic relationship. Man has continued to mercilessly ravage the Earth. Mother Earth is evidently now reaching her breaking point.

Some among us continue to dump tons of garbage, including discarded appliances into our storm water drains. When will we learn that?