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Cops
ready for polls
By
Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
FRANCIS
FORBES, the Commissioner of Police, said that his team is
ready to provide security across the island's 60 constituencies
tomorrow, Election Day.
"The
security plans which we have put in place are unprecedented
in this country's history," declared Commissioner Forbes
at a press briefing at his St. Andrew office yesterday where
he spoke about his 20-point security plan.
The
Police Force has also acquired five helicopters, which will
play an integral part in the security strategy on Election
Day. Commissioner Forbes said that he did not know how much
they would cost the Government, or if there was an arrangement
to purchase them.
Included
in the Commissioner's 20-point security plan are: adequate
police coverage at all polling stations, from open to close;
and a full escort system for electoral officials and vehicles
transporting ballot boxes from polling stations to counting
centres.
There
will be adequate security at counting centres islandwide and
personnel and equipment will be strategically deployed across
the troubled constituencies, assured Commissioner Forbes.
Police
personnel will be attired in red or blue seam uniforms, while
inspectors and members of the officer corps will be clad in
their customary khaki uniforms, he explained. Detectives and
parish specials will wear vests, easily identified by letters
or numbers.
With
everything now in place and the security forces in a state
of readiness, Commissioner Forbes has joined the growing number
of persons and groups calling for a peaceful election.
"Let
no more blood be shed over politics; let no more property
be destroyed over politics. Let us demonstrate to our children
that we can show respect for each other's choices and not
resort to violent means," declared the police chief.
"I
want to remind my fellow Jamaicans that the world is watching
us. The Carter Center team, led by no less a person that Nobel
laureate, former President Jimmy Carter, will be monitoring
our election and numerous members of the international media
have already arrived in the island," he said. "It
is, therefore, extremely important that these elections are
conducted in peace, order and safety. The negative behaviour
of a few influences how all of us are viewed by the world,
so it is in the interest of everyone to keep the peace."
On
the weekend, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and Opposition
Leader Edward Seaga, in a joint statement, reiterated their
appeal for peace. "We want to make it clear that we do
not condone violence of any sort," the leaders said.
"Anyone in our respective parties caught or found breaking
the law will not only be severely disciplined by the party,
but will be turned over to the police."
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