TEF Donates $91 Million to Boost Police Operations in North East Region

The police force has received $91 million from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), which will go towards efforts to clamp down on illegal jet ski operations and bolster major crime fighting initiatives in the north east region of Negril, Montego Bay, Falmouth and Ocho Rios.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, handed over the cheque to National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting yesterday (October 17), during a ceremony held at the Montego Bay Yacht Club in Freeport, St. James.

Dr. McNeill informed that $45 million of the amount will be used to acquire additional motor vehicles, while $40 million will go to the marine police for improvements to the division’s outposts in the targeted areas.

The remaining $6 million is for the extensive repair of the marine police boats to ensure that there are workable vessels in all the harbours and ports across the region.

“This project has now been completed and today, we have one of these vessels here to be handed over to the Marine Police Division. We are working with this division and would like to thank them for the support they have given in this regard,” Dr. McNeill said.

As it relates to the clamp down on illegal jet ski operations, the Tourism Minister said that “this was not something that the Ministries want to do but something that we must do to ensure that whatever is offered is of the best standard and not just comparable with other places/countries, but we must try to achieve and ensure that we in Jamaica are the best”.

Mr. Bunting, for his part, expressed gratitude for the funds, noting that the security measures to be implemented will not only benefit visitors but citizens of the targeted areas.

“We are very pleased today to be the lucky recipients of this timely presentation … I am hoping that this cooperation and this example of ‘joined up government’ is really the start of a true integrated multi-disciplinary approach to improving citizens’ security … by reducing the threat of crime to citizens, improving public safety and public order, and to really create an environment that we don’t have to rely entirely on the police to make an intervention,” Mr. Bunting said.