DIRECTOR OF CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS VISITS USAID-FUNDED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 001460 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (NICHOLS, BENT) PASS USAID FOR DARBY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM JM SUBJECT: DIRECTOR OF CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS VISITS USAID-FUNDED INNER CITY COMMUNITY POLICING FACILITY REF: A. KINGSTON 01342 ¶B. KINGSTON 01363 ¶C. KINGSTON 01346 ¶D. KINGSTON 01361 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. On May 12, WHA/CAR Director Brian Nichols toured the USAID-funded Grants Pen Community Policing Facility located in Kingston. Facilitating the tour from the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) was Becky Stockhausen and Bob Olson from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). Stockhausen noted that this is the first model community policing center to be built in partnership with the citizens and private sector businesses while Nichols expressed admiration for the work of the community and its ability to effectively address social ills. Reftels report Director Nichols's other meetings during his visit. End Summary. -------------- Community Police Services Facility -------------- ¶2. On May 12, WHA/CAR Director Brian Nichols, accompanied by AmCham Executive Director Becky Stockhausen and Robert Olson, Community Policing Advisor for the USAID-funded Police Executive Research Forum (PERF),USAID Deputy Director, and Poloff, toured the construction site of the Community Policing Services Facility in Grants Pen. The facility, scheduled for completion in August 2005, will offer a wide range of services to residents of Grants Pen, including a post office, an automatic banking machine, an internet access center, a facility to temporarily house battered women and children, a health clinic, evidence and suspect interviewing rooms and a community room for training and meetings, in addition to a full-service community police station. PERF officials are working with local residents and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) officers assigned to Grants Pen to develop community programs that will be operated out of this new facility after its opening. Stockhausen stressed that although the policing facility is located in the constituency of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) MP and shadow justice minister Delroy Chuck, employees of the construction site are supporters of both the JLP and the ruling People's National Party (PNP). She said that there has not been any feuding between the two groups. ¶3. Following the tour of the construction site, Olson provided a brief walking tour of the neighboring community where people have taken "ownership" of the land and have erected very small one room housing units. Through Amcham funding, a public restroom facility was built in the middle of this 30-unit housing compound. Nichols stated that he was very impressed with the entire project. Not only did it address the important issue of crime, he said, it also provided services critically needed in the community. The policing program reinforces the need for the police to work hand-in-hand with the community. -------------- --- Background on USAID's Community Policing Program -------------- --- ¶4. In 2003, as part of its effort to strengthen the rule of law and combat corruption, USAID initiated a pilot community policing program - the first of its kind in Jamaica - to help reduce the incidence of major crimes and to improve police-community relations in the volatile inner-city community of Grants Pen. In the 1980's and 1990's, Grants Pen was afflicted with high levels of crime and violence, which resulted in stagnant development, hindered investment and an intractably high unemployment rate. ¶5. The community policing program is a multi-faceted initiative that aims to rebuild trust between the JCF and residents of Grants Pen. The program is being implemented under a cooperative agreement with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and is comprised of three main components: (1) support for the establishment of a private sector-financed model community police service facility; (2) strengthening community policing practices through specialized training of police and community leaders; and (3) support for community-police interaction that is establishing and expanding effective partnerships. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. In less than two years, USAID's community policing activities have contributed to the reduction of certain types of crime and violence in Grants Pen, such as robbery and armed assault. While USAID's community policing program is only one of several contributing factors to this reduced crime rate, it is without doubt, a key one. As the first major donor to address crime and violence in Grants Pen, USAID's initiative is serving to initiate the creation of partnerships between the police and private sector as well as mobilize resources to improve security while providing a community policing model for future replication throughout Jamaica. USAID's monetary contribution to the program has exceeded US$3.3 million and Amcham funding and in-kind contributions have totaled more than USD 2.3 million to date. End Comment. ¶7. This cable has been cleared by WHA/CAR Director Brian Nichols. ROBINSON