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The Department of Correctional Services on Tuesday (March 17) launched its Inmates Work Programme 2009, with a two-day clean up in Portmore, St. Catherine. The project, the 19th since the programme began, took place at the border between the Portmore Pines and Silverstone communities, which also borders the Silverstone Basic School. It is expected to cost about one-fifth of open...

State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Arthur Williams, has said that the Government will be placing increased emphasis on community policing as an important strategy in creating a modernised security force and addressing crime and violence. "Everyone in the police services in Jamaica is going to have to buy-in to the concept of community policing, as that...

Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission, Cordell Green, has urged the corporate community to refrain from investing in that which "keeps Jamaica entrenched in a state of decadence." "I say to our business leaders, do not allow the pursuit of profit and the imperatives of marketing to cause you to support a vortex of unbridled sex, violence and profanity on...

Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan, today (March 13) signed a US$1.4 million contract with Motorola Inc., for the provision of additional radios and accessories for the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). Cabinet approved the acquisition earlier this month, which is expected to boost the inter-communication capability among the security forces, to improve operational...

Lieutenant Colonel David Cummings of the Jamaica Defence Force's (JDF) Strategy, Policy, Plans and Transformation Unit has said that a transformed JDF could significantly enhance Jamaica's national security. "A transformed JDF will add much value to Jamaica's national security landscape, by delivering modern, flexible and capable forces to meet the evolving threats in the new strategic environment," Lt. Colonel Cummings...

Forty one retired senior police officers who were today (March 11) feted at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, are being urged to find ways to contribute to nation-building. The suggestion came from both National Security Minister, Colonel Trevor MacMillan, and former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. Colonel MacMillan referred to what he described as the complex social conditions that made the tasks...

Superintendent of Police for Manchester, Ryland Salmon, has said that the close collaboration among community groups, citizens, and the police over the past three months, was yielding results, with the capture of many wrongdoers. "It is clear to us that our community-based policing is working in certain critical communities and that our work is producing results where we have recovered...

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, has called for further amendments to be made to the Sexual Offences Act, to include provisions to protect persons with physical incapacities. "The section that deals with persons with disabilities only has provisions to protect persons with mental disorders. These provisions should be extended to persons with physical incapacities as well,...

Inter-communication capability among the security forces and correctional services are being beefed up to provide for more operational efficiency and service delivery. Cabinet this week approved the award of a contract by the Ministry of National Security in the sum of US$1,437,282 to Motorola Incorporated, for the supply of radios and accessories for the Jamaica Defence Force, the Jamaica Constabulary...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that despite the significant progress being made by the Ministry in improving health services, the sector remained challenged by the scourge of violence in society. The Minister made this declaration in a speech, read by Chief Medical Officer of Health in the Ministry, Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester , at the 'Peace for...

The Honourable Olivia "Babsy" Grange has said that she believes that the most important step that the country can take towards controlling crime and violence "is to breakdown that wall that exists between the police and the citizens, especially our young citizens and the police." Minister Grange was the guest speaker at the official launch of the National Police Youth...

Minister of National Security, Col. Trevor MacMillan, has said that even though violence has become a major problem within schools, it was a minority of students who are committing the offences. "During a meeting with principals from across the island, one said that there were six boys who gave all the trouble in the school. [Another principal] had a larger...