⁠Chang Accuses Bunting of Political Interference in Police Force

Minister of National Security and deputy prime minister, Dr. Horace Chang, is calling on Opposition leader, Mark Golding, to address what he deems the dangerous and retrograde political interference expressed by his Spokesman on National Security, Peter Bunting.

Dr. Chang is referencing a statement made by Mr. Bunting at the recent 81st Annual Joint Central Conference of the Jamaica Police Federation.

In an open letter to Mr. Golding, Dr. Chang says Mr. Bunting’s comments were an attempt to pit the rank and file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force against members of the high command.

Ricardo Brooks tells us more.

Former Police Federation head, Corporal Rohan James, is currently before the courts after being interdicted by the High Command.

This is over controversial comments he made at a colleague’s funeral last year.

During his address at the Federation’s conference earlier this month, Senator Bunting suggested that Corporal James was being muzzled after he was not given leave to attend the function.

Dr. Chang says the statement created dissension in the meeting and was tantamount to political interference in a JCF internal disciplinary matter.

He says any semblance of political interference in such issues is a dangerous and retrograde step.

Referencing Jamaica’s long and torturous history of political interference in the operations of the police, the national security minister cautioned the Opposition leader to correct course.

He says operational matters, including disciplinary action, are always exclusively the remit of the commissioner of police and the Police High Command.

Dr. Chang says while no institution is above public criticism and question, the manner and nature of such public statements must be tempered against the obligation to protect the institution from undue influence.

He says it’s problematic when a political representative agitates on behalf of a specific individual officer against the High Command in such a manner.

The national security minister says when politicians behave in such a way it breaches the lines of separation between policy and political interference.

Dr. Chang is of the view that a political representative delivering a speech to mobilize the rank and file against the High Command is fraught with danger.

He’s hoping that Mr. Golding is of a similar opinion.