Commissioner of Police "RETRACTS"

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Topic: Commissioner of Police "RETRACTS"

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Crazypickney

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Date: 23:17 06/03 2008

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Commissioner retracts

Tuesday, 03 June 2008

Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin (Gleaner)

Prime Minister Bruce Golding Tuesday afternoon confirmed that Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin had withdrawn his letter of resignation and would continue in the post.

Addressing the widely publicised issue in the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Golding said the Commissioner's change of heart came after discussions involving Admiral Lewin, members of the Police Service Commission and himself.

No support

Much has been said over the last 24 hours about whether Commissioner Lewin has the full backing of the political administration and members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and whether this was a factor in his resignation.

Mr. Golding sought to put that matter to rest.

"The Commissioner has been reassured that he has the full backing of the government and the Police Services Commission. He needs to be assured as well that he has the full support of the members of the police force and the support of well thinking people of Jamaica," he said.

Commissioner Lewin was appointed in December with much expression of public support.

Resources being mobilized

But the lack of adequate resources and legislative support have been cited as two of the factors that continue to inhibit the country's crime- fighting efforts.

Prime Minister Golding promised improvements in these two areas.

"The resources of the c****ined security forces are being fully mobilized to wage vigorous and sustained initiative to restore safety to our streets and communities, to apprehend criminals, to dismantle criminal gangs and recover illegal guns."

Mr. Golding said the Attorney General has been instructed to fast-track the preparation of the necessary legislation.

Regarding the Strategic Review of the organisation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Mr. Golding told the House that this was now the subject of intensive discussions and will be shared shortly with the parliamentary opposition.

Lewin must continue

Several local human rights groups have welcomed the decision of Rear Admiral Lewin to withdraw his resignation.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the local chapter of Amnesty International, the Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights and Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) said they support the Commissioner in his decision to reconsider his resignation.

JFJ's Executive Director Dr. Carolyn Gomes told RJR News that Commissioner Lewin is the right man for the job at this time as he shares the organisation's principles on human rights.

Supports human rights efforts

Executive Director, JFJ Dr. Carolyn Gomes.

Executive Director, JFJ Dr. Carolyn Gomes.

"We believe he (agrees with us) that human rights is not an obstacle to peace and security but rather the tool for the preservation of peace and security.

We're convinced that he (the Commissioner) and several members of the police force understand that respecting human rights is more effective policing," she said.

Dr. Gomes said the human rights groups understand how this plague of violence has affected the country but they also understand that getting control will not be an overnight sensation.

"We have to avoid the tendency to employ policing methods which have resulted in the alienation of the police from the people," she said.

Dr. Gomes commended the government for its decision to return the resignation, adding that JFJ is confident that Commissioner Lewin has the ability to implement the crime strategy needed to stem the current crisis.

Powerful lobby for Commish

Dr. Gomes also dismissed claims that JFJ and other powerful groups lobbied the government and were instrumental in the Commissioner withdrawing his resignation.

"We have not had any dialogue with the Prime Minister, the Commissioner and the Minister of Security. We had no dialogue with anyone beyond the human rights groups and the media this morning before hearing about the (Commissioner's) decision to withdraw the resignation.

We were as much in the dark and have had as little input as the rest of the society," she said.

Improved relationship

Chairman of the Police Officers Association (POA) Superintendent Michael James has stated that the relationship involving the senior officers and the Police Commissioner had been improving.

There have been numerous reports that Commissioner Lewin and his senior officers were not seeing eye to eye.

According to RJR News sources, the Commissioner's style and utterances have not gone down well with members of the senior rank.

It is believed that the deep divide has led many within the Force to withdraw their support for the Commissioner.

Resignation & retraction sends the wrong signal

But two political commentators said the Police Commissioner's decision to withdraw his resignation raises more questions than answers for both the Commissioner and the current Golding Administration.

Political Analyst Dr. Paul Ashley said the move could send the wrong signal about Commissioner Lewin's commitment to the post.

"It must have been very serious and fundamental consideration's that prompted the man in the middle of the war on crime to resign.'

Can you imagine, if as Chief of the Jamaica Defence Force and we were subject to an external attack that he resigned in the middle of that?," said Dr. Ashley.

He said for Mr. Lewin to resign in the middle of the Force's war on crime was a very serious and calculated step to take.

What are the guarantees?

Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin.

Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin.

Dr. Ashley said the challenges which forced the Commissioner to resign could not have been addressed so quickly.

He also asked whether the country could be faced with a similar situation in the near future.

"I'm a bit puzzled as to what could have changed in less than 24 hours and I'm prompted to ask the question whether he guaranteed a set of circumstances that will not cause him to be perpetually handing in his resignation."

Political Commentator Shalman Scott agreed.

He added that the Commissioner will have to make a commitment to address some of the problems which led to his resignation.

"The fundamental problems that even the Commissioner himself conceded to exist which has to do with the interpersonal relationship between himself and the force that he leads ... that problem remains.

What is also obvious is that the Commissioner is having a problem making the transition from the military type of management to which he is accustomed to a paramilitary/civilian type of management," said Mr. Scott.

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