The Government continues to use investments in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) as a major part of setting the economic foundation of the country and ensuring the sustained development of the Jamaican society.
st In delivering an address at the Jamaica Police Federation 81 Annual Joint Central Conference held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay earlier today (May 21), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Horace Chang noted that security and economy go hand in hand.
The Security Minister emphasised that “security and economy are two things that go together and the country will not have successful economic development unless we have security”.
He expressed that this forms part of the basis on which the Ministry of National Security continues to invest in the complete transformation of the Force in an effort to ensure the security of all Jamaicans.
As the Force continues to improve in mobility, infrastructure and technology, Minister Chang offered up a guarantee that the Government will continue to fulfil the vision to restore the professional status of the Force comprehensively.
He stated that this restoration includes “how the officers look, how they conduct themselves, how they perform their duties, and how the public perceives them as the most visible and present representation of the State within our communities”.
While addressing the rank and file officers in attendance at the conference, the Minister expressed that the success of each officer and police division is also the success of the whole country.
He explained that the Government will invest to “bring police infrastructure to a level that befits your standing in the communities as the police force”.
Minister Chang further emphasised that the work of the police force and “the commitment to good order, to reducing violence and corruption in society are essential to building the foundation for the entire development of society”.
The Government continues to be proactive and progressive in the approach to national security as security remains a major priority for the sustained development of the country.
Over the past few years, significant strides have been made in improving the physical infrastructure of the Force. Under the Ministry’s Project Rebuild, Overhaul and Construct Initiative many more projects are on the horizon. To date the initiative has seen the construction and full rehabilitation of fourteen police stations designed and retrofitted to meet the functional and professional needs of modern policing.
At present, five police stations are in an advanced stage of construction, with three major projects representing a combined investment of approximately J$15 billion on track to get started within this fiscal year. Additionally, five more stations are going through the public investment appraisal process, and several others will soon undergo major renovations to facilitate our full digitisation programme.
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