National Security Minister, Peter Bunting, has declared war on corrupt politicians holding high office and professionals, including lawyers and accountants, who facilitate their multi-million dollar acts of corruption.
Mr. Bunting revealed today that a super law enforcement agency is to intensify efforts to bring to justice public officials, including police personnel and bankers, who’re the facilitators of organized criminal activity.
The super agency is the merger of the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Taskforce and the police Anti-Corruption Branch, ACB.
It will retain the name MOCA.
Addressing a media briefing at the Police Officers Club in St. Andrew, Minister Bunting disclosed that a Jamaica Defence Force Colonel, Desmond Edwards, will be heading the new agency.
He says the super agency will be able to initiate major investigations without requiring permission from the high command of the Constabulary Force.
The Security Minister says personnel from MOCA and the ACB who’ll form the new agency will intensify efforts to bring to justice persons, including those in high office, who’re suspected of perpetrating corruption and organized crime.
Bunting says the agency will stay true to his policy mandate of taking the profit out of crime and is part of plans to set up a national law enforcement agency.
Word has been circulating in political circles that a Minister in the current PNP administration and a former JLP Cabinet Minister are under probe as MOCA investigates suspected corruption in the awarding of multi-million dollar government contracts.
We asked the Security Minister today if his warning that law enforcement is just getting started in pursuing persons in high office, including politicians, is a sign of things to come.
Minister Bunting says the upgraded MOCA will be independent in operational matters but will report to the National Security Council via the Security Minister on policy matters.
But why is the agency not reporting to the Police Commissioner? It’s a question we put to the Security Minister.
Meanwhile … a number representatives from Jamaicans international law enforcement partners were in attendance at today’s launch of the new agency.
Among the representatives was advisor to the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency.
Mr. Downer, who was formerly attached to the United Kingdom-based Scotland Yard, says he’s encouraged by the merger of MOCA and the anti-corruption branch.
Steve Downer, Advisor to the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency.
