The government’s efforts at tackling the ever increasing crime problem have been bolstered with the presentation of 15 vehicles to the Jamaica Constabulary Force by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).
Acquired from a grant of $45.7 million, the presentation of the assortment of vehicles took place during a handing-over ceremony, held at the office of the Commissioner of Police in Kingston on Monday and is to further boost crime-fighting efforts in the tourist resort areas across the island.
The donation marks the latest step in TEF’s ongoing initiative to bolster the crime fighting resources of the JCF. In February of this year the TEF donated fifteen vehicles to the JCF valued at $28.2 million, while in October it presented $91 million to the Ministry of National Security to bolster the fight against crime on land and sea.
Additionally in May 2012, the TEF presented 16 Sports Utility Vehicles to the JCF for use in tourist resort areas at a cost of approximately $32 million. In addition the Montego Hills Police Station in St. James has been refurbished at a cost of $6 million. Motorcycles have also been provided for the Montego Bay resort area through a collaborative effort with the St. James Police-Citizens Action Committee to the tune of $1.5 million, to boost the efforts of the traffic police in monitoring and enforcing traffic laws along the Elegant Corridor.
Speaking at the handing-over ceremony Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Dr. Wykeham McNeill, under whose Ministry the TEF falls, said “this latest donation of vehicles to the JCF is further proof of the commitment of the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment and its agencies, prime among them the TEF, to aiding in the fight against crime.” The Minister emphasized that “crime is not just an issue for the Ministry of National Security and the JCF, but is a national imperative and every single Jamaican has to play their part in fighting crime. We in tourism are doing our part to reduce crime to the benefit of our entire nation.”
In addition to the 15 vehicles donated by the TEF, the JCF also received 72 vehicles from the Ministry of National Security and two from the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC).
In expressing thanks for the donation, Minister of National Security Peter Bunting, said “we are doing everything we can within the tight fiscal space to provide resources to the police, and we are being creative as we don’t only allocate resources from central government but we also source them from the agencies as well.”
Commissioner of Police Mr. Owen Ellington, who officially received the vehicles on behalf of the JCF, stressed that the donation of vehicles is proof of the government’s commitment to boosting the capacity of the police to enable them to better execute their duties.
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