James ‘guiding’ PolFed delegates how to vote today
Bunting criticises High Command for interdiction of former union chairman
Published:Wednesday | May 22, 2024 | 12:14 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Former Jamaica Police Federation Chairman Corporal Rohan James says he has given instructions and guidance to delegates on who they should vote for in today’s election of officers to lead the rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
“I am not able to offer myself, but I will seek to influence the best possible representatives who will take the members’ business seriously going forward,” James told reporters on the sideline of the 81st annual joint central conference of the Jamaica Police Federation.
When asked, James, who is now in a court battle with the JCF over his interdiction for comments made while serving as chairman of the federation, did not reveal who he is backing for the chairmanship.
“One thing to say for sure, I have given strategic guidance as to what it is that should emanate from my interaction and presence,” said James.
James said he was barred from attending the Jamaica Police Federation’s conference now taking place at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel in Montego Bay, St James. He told reporters that he would not allow any member of the JCF or external forces to silence him.
“No one will be able to muzzle Rohan James. I will not be submissive to the place where the safety and security of the nation is compromised and for persons who are responsible to not be held accountable for their action and non-action,” he argued.
“When I approached the facility this morning I reminded the members of the security detail of the hotel that the reservation that was made has nothing to do with the conference and consequently they are not to bring my presence at the hotel in conflict with the happenings of the conference.
“I had to remind them that they ought not to bring the hotel image into disrepute because there was an attempt to block my presence at the hotel,” said the embattled former chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation.
In the meantime, Inspector Patrae Rowe, a former chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, failed in his attempt to stop Senator Peter Bunting, opposition spokesperson on national security, from speaking on James’ interdiction and criticising the Police High Command.
During Bunting’s presentation, Rowe rose on a point of order and asked the conference chairman to ask the senator to confine his remarks to the rules of the JCF to not bring the conference into disrepute.
However, a female member, with the support of delegates, shot down the point of order, arguing that Rowe’s action bordered on seeking to attempt to muzzle a guest of the conference and that this does not accord with free speech.
Asked for his views on the incident, James said, “It’s a dark day in the history of the Jamaica Police Federation and I will leave it at that.”
Added James: “It is something the members will have to deal with going forward in electing a committee, and in electing a committee, I believe that we should contemplate the quality of leadership and direction that we anticipate going forward.”