Police Commissioner Lauds UCC for Scholarship

The decision by the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) to establish a scholarship for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), in honour of slain Constable, Crystal Thomas, has been lauded by Commissioner of Police, Dr. Carl Williams.

The Commissioner said the announcement, which was made at the funeral service for the late Constable on August 9, at the Ebenezer Fellowship Church of God Seventh-day in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, was a “pleasant surprise for himself and members of the force who will be benefitting from the gesture.”

“It is very welcomed. I was quite surprise, but it is a pleasant surprise. This is something that will help a lot of police officers to travel the same route of Crystal, in terms of academic studies,” the Commissioner told JIS News.

Just before her death on July 14, the late Constable had completed an Associate Degree in Business Administration from UUC, which the university presented to her mother Jacqueline Brown, at a graduation ceremony on July 19, at the National Indoor Sport Centre, in St. Andrew.

Dr. Williams said the scholarship is significant as it is being given in her name. “She was a brave and courageous police officer, so we welcome it, and we are happy for it,” he said.

Deputy President of UCC, Dr. Dameon Black, who made the announcement, said the value of the scholarship is $540,000 over four years at the undergraduate level, and for two years for those doing graduate studies.

“This is one of the ways in which we want to cherish her memory, and to acknowledge her contribution to the crime fighting efforts,” Dr. Black told JIS News.

Meanwhile, in paying tribute to the slain police woman, Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, said her untimely death should be a challenge to citizens to become more engaged in the fight against lawless “elements who are destroying the future of our country.”

“By joining the police, she chose to be a part of the solution to Jamaica’s problem of crime and violence. She was not content to sit on the sidelines and criticize, and wait on others to fix the problem,” he said at the funeral service.

The Minister also commended the police officers, and members of the public, whose actions led to the early apprehension of those “suspected of committing this terrible act.”

“Their actions send a strong message to the men of violence that they will be brought to justice,” Mr. Bunting said.