PM GOLDING…NOT SATISFIED WITH RESULTS IN DEALING WITH CRIME AND VIOLENCE

PM GOLDING...NOT SATISFIED WITH RESULTS IN
DEALING WITH CRIME AND VIOLENCE

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says he wants to raise the level of confidence that the public has in the police; and he named a number of steps the government intends to take toward this end.

Speaking at an interview on CVM television's programme ‘Direct', earlier this week, he said, "We are going to enact into law some of the provisions of the political code ...where they involve conduct and particularly where they involve the authoritative intervention of the political ombudsman. We're going to make some of those transgressions which now command only the reprimand of the political ombudsman and the exposure of the media becomes the basis on which people can be impeached and for which people can be barred from being elected."

He added that the Independent Investigative Authority, which was a critical plank of his election campaign, will be the subject of legislation and will replace the Bureau of Investigation. He disclosed that work on that legislation is now well advanced.

While expressing some dissatisfaction with the results that his administration is getting in relation to crime and violence in the country, Mr. Golding acknowledged that the government is constrained by lack of resources. He said the situation demanded a national effort and that the cooperation of the Opposition was required in carrying out certain of the recommendations of the Strategic Review. One of these is the amalgamation of the Police Services Commission and the Police Civilian Authority.

Mr. Golding said that a meeting was held with the Opposition Leader to discuss this step and that a consultant has been engaged to assist with the process.