JO - Failed state status on the horizon

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Observer

Failed state status on the horizon

Mark Wignall

Thursday, May 06, 2010

"You chopping, boy, but no chips are flying." - From the cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn.

One day last week as I allowed myself the opportunity to watch Senator Dwight Nelson, our minister of national security, address the Upper House on security matters, a number of items jumped out at me.

Read the whole column here.

Snippet(s):

"Just recently the new commissioner, Owen Ellington, made the appeal for the people to assist in the push-back against violent criminality, and the commissioner immediately before him, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, told us in 2005 that Tivoli is the "mother of all garrisons". Before him, Lucius Thomas detailed the corruption inside the police force. And just before the JLP election win in September 2007, the JLP proudly strode into power armed with an impressive crime plan authored by ex-commissioner, Colonel Trevor McMillan."

&

"Commissioner Ellington would probably be the last to admit that many of the advances that were made in taking down criminals of the "Mr Big" type happened mostly with the efforts of the British policemen who came in under the last administration when the security ministry was headed by Peter Phillips. Will he admit, though, that too high a percentage of personnel in the JCF are too close to organised criminality? Nah, he won't."

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observemark@gmail.com

JO - 'No marriages of convenience.' Security minister warns J’cans against illegally tying the knot with Haitians.

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Observer

'No marriages of convenience'


Security minister warns J’cans against illegally tying the knot with Haitians


BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Sunday Observer staff reporter dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com


Sunday, January 24, 2010


NATIONAL Security minister Senator Dwight Nelson has issued a warning against marriages of convenience between Jamaicans and Haitian nationals.

Read the whole article here.

LoveFM - CARICOM PASSPORT INTRODUCED IN BELIZE

From my archive of press clippings:

LoveFM


CARICOM PASSPORT INTRODUCED IN BELIZE


March 16, 2009


A few years of methodical planning and correspondence among countries in the Caribbean Community have yielded a regional ticket for travel within its member-states. Following the twentieth intercessional meeting of CARICOM Heads of State held in Belize last week the official travel document known as the CARICOM Passport was introduced to Belizeans this morning in Belmopan. Before an audience of foreign dignitaries and officials from the Immigration and Nationality Department Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo was one of three recipients to be in possession of the new passport. Perdomo was also the guest speaker during the unveiling ceremony held at the George Price Center for Peace & Development.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The unique identity of the Belize (CARICOM) passport is the result of the pairing up of the Immigration and Nationality Department and its software developer 3M of Ottawa, Canada."

&

"Applicants and holders of current passports in need of renewal are advised that there is a lengthy waiting period and the process will only be expedited based on urgency."