KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday January 26, 2018 – The government will introduce a revamped Early Retirement Scheme for police officers as part of mechanisms to rid the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) of corrupt members.

Minister of National Security Robert Montague told the House of Representatives this week that the new policy is with the Commissioner of Police.

“He fully understands the issue of corruption and the overall impact that it has on the reputation of the organization, and has committed to begin utilization of that important tool to hasten the transition of members of the Force, at all levels, who are tainted by corruption or otherwise are ineffective,” he said.

Montague added that the Ministry has identified the funds necessary to underwrite that activity, but it is “prepared to ask the Ministry of Finance for more”.

The Minister said corruption in the JCF remains a significant challenge, although he noted that the vast majority of its members are law-abiding patriotic Jamaicans who work diligently in the service of their fellow citizens.

“But, there is a minority that is corrupt or will not do their jobs competently and are not being held accountable to the extent that they should be,” Montague lamented. “As we have seen time and time again, the actions of a corrupt few often cast a long shadow over the good work of the majority of the hard-working men and women of the Force.”

Meantime, Prime Minister Andrew Holness Prime Minister Andrew says his government is determined to undermine and uproot crime in the country.

As the State of Public Emergency in the parish of St James enters a second week, Holness said there would be some “initial jitters” about the definitive actions taken to manage the crime situation, but the country will benefit significantly.

“It is the intention of the government to be persistent in these measures these are not short term measures, and those who are supporting criminal enterprise should not believe that these are measures that you can wait out,” he said.

Holness said his administration has a suite of plans it has started to implement which will see significant results, particularly in the reduction of murders.

“It took us 40 years to get here, it is not going to change overnight but the message is that the government will be persistent, determined and instrumental in its action. We ask for the understanding of our international partners in this regard. After all, this is what they’ve been asking us to do in taking charge of this problem.”