JCF Receives More Motorcycles

The traffic division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has received a boost with the addition of four motorcycles to its fleet.

Valued at some US$30,000, the 650cc Yamaha motorcycles, donated by the Jamaica National General Insurance Company (JNGI), were handed over on Thursday, May 9, at the Commissioner’s Office on Old Hope Road in Kingston.

Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, said the bikes will assist the Traffic Division in executing its traffic management strategy.

In a message read by Head of Corporate Services in the Ministry, Angela Buchanan, Mr. Bunting said any assistance which can be given to the team at the Police Traffic Division, will no doubt improve the ability of members to maintain order on the nation’s roads.

“In all instances where I can heap commendation on the work of the police, I will do so and the reduction in road fatalities to 258 in 2012 (from 308 in 2011) is remarkable, in that it is the lowest number recorded since the Road Safety Council has been tracking the statistics,” he said.

The Minister expressed gratitude to JNGI and the private sector in general, for the overall show of support that they have been giving in relation to helping the JCF to build its capacity in different ways.

“In recent months several of our private sector partners have made considerable donations to the JCF in terms of equipment, vehicles, training opportunities and more. The Ministry of National Security and the Government of Jamaica are very appreciative of this continued show of support to the work of the JCF,” he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Police Traffic Division, Senior Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, expressed gratitude for the bikes, and informed that two of the motorcycles will be placed in Kingston, while the others will be sent to Falmouth and Highway 2000 patrol.

“These bikes come at a very good time when we are on a drive to control fatalities and to assist us in our traffic management,” he said.

For his part, General Manager of JNGI, Chris Hind, said the donation is a continuation of the Jamaica National Building Society Group of Companies contribution in the area of safer roads.

“At JNGI, we are committed to support the thrust to cut Jamaica’s road fatalities in half by 2020. And, we have sought to forge partnerships with the government and other stakeholders to build institutional capacity and generate individual support for the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety,” he noted.

Mr. Hind informed that one year ago, the JNGI signed an agreement with the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing to erect crash ‘hot-spot’ signs at strategic locations across the island.

“The JNGI has erected signs at the worst of these crash hot spots and through a series of advertorials, news stories and social media posts, we have increased awareness among drivers where accidents are most likely to occur, so that they can negotiate those areas with greater caution,” he said, adding that the donation is another step in the programme.

Mr. Hind commended the police for the role they have been playing in reducing the number of crashes on the roads.

Contact: Chris Patterson