US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON659

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000659 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/CAR (BENT), SOUTHCOM J7 FOR RHANNAN, DOJ/OPDAT FOR 
LIPMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KCRM, SNAR, JM, Haiti, corruption 
SUBJECT: JCF COMMISSIONER LUCIUS THOMAS ADDRESSES THE 
DIPLOMATIC CORPS 
 
REF: KINGSTON 00041 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Ronald S. Robinson. Reasons 1.5(b) and 
 (d). 
 
1. (U) Summary:  On Friday, March 4, the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs and Foreign Trade hosted a briefing by Jamaica 
Constabulary Force (JCF) Commissioner Lucius Thomas for the 
diplomatic corps.  During the briefing, Thomas described the 
major causes of crime as gangs, drugs, guns, and money 
laundering.  He asked members of the corps to assist the 
fight against crime by not "legitimizing" businessmen who 
partake in crime and described the JCF's areas of significant 
weakness as forensic capabilities as well as the inability to 
process firearms.  Thomas briefly touched on the JCF's new 
Corporate Strategy.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) On March 4, Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas 
addressed members of the diplomatic corps at a briefing 
hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade 
(MFAFT).  Thomas, formerly the Deputy Commissioner for Crime, 
was sworn in on January 19.  Commissioner Thomas took over 
the helm two weeks after former Commissioner Francis Forbes 
announced his unexpected retirement and during a time when 
Jamaica's murder rate was at it's highest in history (Ref A). 
 Gangs, drugs, guns, and money laundering were described as 
the major causes of crime.  The Commissioner asked members of 
the corps to assist in the fight against crime by not 
"legitimizing" businessmen who participate in crime and 
described the JCF's areas of significant weakness as forensic 
capabilities as well as the inability to process firearms. 
Although citing Haiti as a capital source for guns, he noted 
that North America continues to be a major player in the 
small arms trade stating that intelligence has indicated that 
Miami, New York and Philadelphia are critical ports from 
which weapons head to the inner cities of Jamaica. 
 
3. (U) While there are still gangs that are aligned with the 
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People's National Party 
(PNP), Thomas emphasized that gangs are not as politically 
affiliated today as they were in the past as the major gangs 
and dons no longer require the assistance of party leaders. 
The contracts and financing that party leaders used to 
provide are no longer available and the dons have become 
self-sufficient in obtaining the money and control needed to 
operate.  (Note:  While it appears that the dons no longer 
require the assistance of political leaders, there is still 
evidence of ties between them.  Some political leaders 
continue to publicly associate with known dons and both the 
JLP and PNP continue to point the finger when flare-ups occur 
in their constituencies.) 
 
4. (U) Describing corruption in Jamaica as "pervasive and all 
over", Thomas stated that many businessmen appear legitimate 
on the surface, however, many of them contribute extensively 
to the money laundering and drug problem on the island.  He 
lamented that it is unfortunate that the laws of Jamaica will 
not allow them to be pointed out. "If you think that the 
young men driving the very expensive SUVs and Mercedes Benz 
are legitimate, think again" Thomas said.  Most of the 
"businessmen" legitimize themselves through people just like 
you - referring to the diplomatic audience.  Claiming these 
same individuals are the ones diplomats invite to cocktail 
parties and other functions, Thomas advised those present to 
run background checks on some of the people they are allowing 
into their homes.  "You are not a target....yet, nor are 
judges or police."  He described the capabilities of 
criminals as more advanced than the police and speculated 
that this is something that can quickly become an issue if 
the JCF does not get a handle on the illicit activity on the 
island. 
 
5. (SBU) The Commissioner described the 2005-2008 Corporate 
Strategy released on March 1, as just one initiative in the 
fight against crime.  (Note:  Thomas inherited the Corporate 
Strategy from former Commissioner Forbes and while he readily 
admitted to the Law Enforcement Development Advisor (LEDA) 
that most of it is "fluff," he has committed to making it 
work.  End Note.)  The key priorities of the strategy are 
defined as (a) providing a citizen-focused service by 
developing a culture that emphasizes accountability, 
integrity, and performance; (b) tackling key operational 
issues by developing community based policing and improving 
the effectiveness of traffic policing; and (c) making best 
use of staff and other resources by strengthening the JCF's 
human resource management systems and by strengthening the 
JCF's financial and asset management.  The JCF has estimated 
the cost of implementing this plan over the next three years 
to be approximately JMD 7.8 billion. 
6. (U)  Corruption within the force, lack of forensic 
capabilities and investigatory skills were cited as major 
weaknesses of the JCF.  While not directly asking for 
assistance, the Commissioner stated that it would be very 
beneficial to the force if it could acquire the Integrated 
Ballistics Information System known as IBIS.  (Note:  The 
Ministry of National Security has asked the UK to assist them 
in acquiring this equipment.  The JCF does not have any means 
of tracking spent shells or testing seized weapons.  End 
Note.) Thomas stated that he also does not have the power to 
fire police officers and noted that this is hampering his 
goal of dealing with corruption within the force. 
 
7. (C)  Comment:  With guidance from Embassy NAS Law 
Enforcement Development Advisor, Thomas has taken some of the 
necessary management steps to revitalize the force, and has 
also revised murder classifications to ensure accuracy in the 
JCF's statistical reporting.  The LEDA will continue to 
provide guidance on how to restructure and reform the police 
and establish a system of accountability and transparency, 
including stronger internal affairs and personnel practices. 
In the nearly two months since the new Commissioner assumed 
the leadership of the JCF, he has launched a significant 
outreach campaign, traveling throughout the island to visit 
different police stations and communities.  Though Thomas's 
candor about the pervasiveness of corruption in Jamaica is 
both refreshing and sobering, his presentation inadvertently 
touched upon why it is so difficult to weed out.  He 
expressly stated that he lacks the authority to fire corrupt 
officers.  Thomas also urged foreign diplomats to "run 
background checks" on, and maintain their distance from, some 
prominent Jamaican businesspersons due to their suspected 
involvement in illicit activities, when much of Jamaican 
society - whether politicians of either major party; the JCF; 
the clergy, the media; high society; entertainers; or the 
proverbial "man on the street" - is often similarly 
compromised and/or unwilling to take a principled stand 
against associating with such individuals. 
ROBINSON