US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON1321

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 001321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR (BENT), INL/LP (KBROWN) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KCRM, SNAR, JM, corruption 
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: CRIME SNAPSHOT FOR MAY 9 - 20 
 
 
The following is a snapshot of crime in Kingston: 
 
1. Crime Statistics 
2. Another Police Officer Slain in the Line of Duty 
3. Prime Minister Calls Crucial Meeting on Corruption 
4. Gunmen Open Fire on Passenger Bus Filled with School 
Children 
 
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Crime Statistics - Nothing New 
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1. The following are statistics accumulated by the Jamaica 
Constabulary Force (JCF) for the period January 1 through May 
20, 2005.  There was a decrease of eight percent in major 
crimes committed, a total of 3,151 compared to 3,438 for the 
same time period last year.  NAS Law Enforcement Development 
Advisor stated that the JCF attribute this to individuals not 
reporting crimes due to fear of reprisals.  The number of 
homicides have increased by 37 percent, with guns being the 
weapon of choice used in 493 of the 641 murders committed. 
Two hundred and thirty-five guns were recovered and 37 were 
reported stolen. 
 
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Another Police Officer Slain in the Line of Duty 
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2. On Thursday, May 12, Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) 
Constable Desmond Douglas was shot and killed in the Olympic 
Gardens section of Kingston during the search for a wanted 
man.  Media reports have alleged that one of the apprehended 
suspects was deported from the U.S. after serving time for 
various crimes and another suspect was killed on the scene 
when a gunbattle ensued. (Note:  Poloff spoke with the JCF's 
liaison to the diplomatic corps who advised that there was no 
evidence that any of the suspects are deportees.  Post's 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Attach will 
conduct an independent check to ascertain whether any of the 
suspects were deported from the U.S.  End Note.)  Douglas' 
death brings the number of policemen killed in the line of 
duty since January 1 to nine. 
 
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Prime Minister Calls Crucial Meeting on Corruption 
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3. On May 11, Prime Minister P. J. Patterson issued a news 
release requesting a meeting on May 13 with permanent 
secretaries, board chairpersons and chief executive officers 
 
SIPDIS 
in the public sector to build a plan to improve the way 
corruption can be detected and anti-corruption measures 
strengthened.  Patterson stated the fight against corruption 
was central to good governance and that he regarded it as a 
personal responsibility, thus he would "do everything to win 
the fight."  (Note:  Corruption as a political issue is a 
recurring one.  Patterson was embarrassed in March when close 
friend and political ally, Alston Stewart, Executive Chairman 
of the National Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA), became 
embroiled in a messy corruption scandal at NSWMA that 
involved shoddy accounting.  The seemingly untouchable 
Stewart denied any wrongdoing and eventually resigned, but he 
made a bad situation worse by profanely "telling off" critics 
in a press conference.  End Note.) 
 
4. The agencies that were represented at the May 13 meeting 
were the Public Services Commission, Auditor General's 
Department, and the Contractor General, all of which have the 
level of authority and public responsibility to assist in 
dealing with complaints, perceptions of corruption, 
efficiency in public management relating to cost overruns as 
well as estimates on contracts awarded. 
 
5. During the meeting, the PM announced that the powers of 
the commission with responsibility for appointment and 
discipline of public officers, police and local government 
employees will be reviewed to allow the Commission to 
promptly investigate and remove from office persons whose 
conduct brings the public sector into disrepute.  Other 
amendments would be made to compel public bodies to follow 
the government's procurement guidelines and to allow for 
sanctions, whether or not the breaches are of a financial 
nature. 
 
6. Finally, the Evidence Act will be reviewed to allow for 
evidence that was collected by way of new technologies to be 
admissible in court.  (Comment: While the call for review of 
corruption initiatives is good, there may be little to 
sustain it.  The police and other investigative authorities 
continue to lack the will and resources to tackle the problem 
head on.  End Comment.) 
 
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Gunmen Open Fire on Passenger Bus filled with School Children 
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7. On Thursday, May 12, shortly after 3:00 p.m., the driver 
of a Toyota Coaster bus carrying a group of children home 
along Maxfield Avenue in West Kingston, came under fire from 
a group of six gunmen armed with high powered weapons.  The 
men attempted to open the doors of the bus, but when they 
were unsuccessful, opened fire damaging the front windshield. 
 One child was injured by flying glass, but no one was 
killed.  No one has been arrested in this incident.  Maxfield 
Avenue, an area which is off limits to Embassy personnel, is 
a high crime area. 
ROBINSON