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COP James Clarkson |
The recent
appointment of a new police Commissioner
has not gone unnoticed. The reactions of
many police officers have also not gone
unnoticed. Reviewing statements you
made since your appointment there is no
doubt that you come across to many as
being very angry. This has raised
concerns since it is often said that
anger is only one letter short of
danger.
What is
worrying is that most times you speak in
that way you appear to be attacking your
subordinates. You say very little to
motivate your men.
Mr.
Commissioner as a music man you will
understand that to play a song on the
piano you need both black and white
keys. Your focus now should be on
bringing the force together and
motivating all your men to perform even
better.
Many
officers, while they may or may not have
supported the former Government are
concerned about certain actions taken,
such as the announcement of transfer of
officers on television and the sending
of selected officers on long leave.
Some officers claim that they heard that
they were being transferred while
watching television. Mr. Commissioner
you must be aware that a leader has two
important characteristics: first he
knows where he is going and second he is
able to persuade other persons to go
with him. I think it is a fundamental
mistake to appear to be dividing the
force at this time. Life is funny;
tomorrow you may just need the same
people you marginalize today.
Your
actions are sparking a lot of questions
by officer. They are asking questions
such as: Where were you when you served
as Deputy Commissioner during hurricane
Ivan. Junior and senior officers could
be heard saying that they expect
anything at anytime and that they are no
longer willing to make sacrifices. This
is very unhealthy for the peace and
stability of this country.
The
statement made about missing files, seem
to have been a premature statement but
you have said so much about the officer
publicly. You have said so much to
reduce the former Commissioner and other
officers of the force. Most of what you
have said are things you heard from
other persons who have their own
agenda. You must get both sides of a
story before you act. Don’t forget that
diplomacy is the art of keeping your
shirt on while getting something off
your chest.
The
statement that rocked a lot of officers
is the one you made that you have
dismantled the strike squad. Many
officers are still suffering the
embarrassment from the way you handled
the situation. Everyone knows that the
strike squad was formed as a special
unit to help reduce violence and crimes
especially among young people and to
deal with the drugs situation in
Grenada. Mr. Clarkson isn’t it true
that you were very instrumental in
setting up the squad. Did you not even
encourage them to use masks to hide
their identity when on operations?
The police
boasted that they were able to get the
gingercrew and others under control.
Many are asking, was this decision taken
as a result of concerns raised by
members of the NDC about an incident
between the police and an activist of
the NDC known to be a trouble maker?
Are you aware that many police officers
are being laughed at by many of the
‘gangsters’ and drug pushers and are
saying they are now free again under the
NDC? Are you aware that this action can
see an increase in the use and sale of
drugs to young people, and an increase
in violence? Many are interested in
knowing what part head of the unit
officer Inspector Raymond Matthew played
in the decision, since he was very
instrumental in raiding a number of
blocks and harassing a number of young
people. The question is now being
asked: Did he do it because he was
interested in reducing crime or did he
do it to make the former government look
bad? Did he ever give the impression on
these operations that he was sent by the
former Prime Minister? Was that an NDC
strategy?
I know
your goal is to be the most successful
Commissioner in Grenada. It is good to
be ambitious and enthusiastic but please
do not forget that enthusiasm is a good
engine but it needs intelligence for a
good driver. It isn’t enough to make
sure you are on the right track; you
must also make sure you are first going
in the right directions for he who takes
the wrong direction has a longer way to
go.
It is
interesting to note, that you
consistently try to make it clear that
you have no political affiliation to any
party but the question is being asked:
Is it true that you were at the home of
the new Prime Minister celebrating in a
yellow t-shirt on the night of the
election? Mr. Commissioner please think
clearly before you act. You may be
destroying today what you will need
tomorrow. Be careful not to build walls
try building bridges.
A Law
Abiding Citizen |
