Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KINGSTON1460
2005-06-08 15:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

DIRECTOR OF CARIBBEAN AFFAIRS VISITS USAID-FUNDED

Tags:  PREL PGOV KCRM JM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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
-------

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