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$470 Million Upgrade for JCF Staff College

July 29, 2008

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Prime Minister Bruce Golding has disclosed that $400 Million has been earmarked for the upgrading of the Jamaica Constabulary Staff College at Twickenham Park in St. Catherine. A further $70 Million will be spent to improve the shooting range at the college.
Mr. Golding, who was speaking at a graduation ceremony held at the staff college on Friday (July 25), said he was not elated by the state of the facility. He said the institution would eventually have to be expanded to meet the new training requirements.
Mr. Golding had high praises for the Special Management Development Programme of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, stating that by improving the training opportunities and management capabilities within the constabulary, police officers should be in a better position to provide the kind of leadership needed to fight crime.
He said the programme was significant for a number of reasons, as the graduates would be assuming duties at a time when great challenges faced the country and the police force. He said the lessons learnt would be critical in responding to those challenges, as criminals must not be allowed to think that they have an advantage. “If they think they are smart we have a police force that is smarter,” Mr. Golding asserted.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding (at podium) delivers the keynote address a graduation exercise at the Jamaica Constabulary Staff College on Friday (July 25). Mr. Golding said the programme had improved the leadership and management capabilities within the police force.

The Prime Minister said the graduates were also completing the programme at a time of great opportunity for the force, as the government had recently signed off on the recommendations of the Strategic Review. He said the recommendations had been published in the Police Staff Orders and that, based on consultations he has had with officers at various ranks within the constabulary, he was satisfied that the membership of the force had bought into the objectives and recommendations.
Mr. Golding said the transformation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force seeks to address the need for a change of culture and that the rank and file members would be involved in the planning and setting of the goals and objectives of the force. He said the transformation would also place emphasis on performance and evaluation in order to inspire and motivate officers. He pointed to the need to expand the programme to allow for an annual intake in order to constantly enrich the quality of leadership within the force.
Sixty-one officers received their certificates of completion at the graduation ceremony on Friday. Certificates were presented to officers who successfully completed the Graduate (Direct) Entry Programme for university graduates recruited into the Officer Corp. Graduates from the Internal Graduated Development Programme for university graduates who were already police officer and the Accelerated Promotion Programme, were also presented with certificates.

Last Updated: July 29, 2008

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