(Jamaica Observer) The Government of Canada yesterday donated J$62 million (CAD$705,000) to Jamaica as part of ongoing initiatives to bolster the island’s anti-crime and anticorruption programmes.
The money will go towards the creation of a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for polygraph training, as well as to train additional polygraph examiners and will be carried out in collaboration with the College of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, where some of the training will be conducted.
The disclosure was made by Diane Ablonczy, minister of state in the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following a tour of the Jamaica Constabulary Force Polygraph Centre at the Twickenham Park Training facility in St Catherine.
“Jamaica can be so proud in its progress in creating a modern police force built on foundations of integrity and competence,” said Ablonczy, praising the 2007 establishment of the polygraph unit.
“We are celebrating many years of partnership in the fight against criminal actors who threaten the very fabric of our society.
“In this region, Jamaica is rightly seen as a real leader in national security issues. This centre of excellence for polygraph training and testing demonstrates that leadership,” she said. “The polygraph is a critical tool against anticorruption activity, and that is why Canada is committed to working with you to further its use in the region.”
Ablonczy said that she was confident that the upgraded facilities and additional operators will bolster the country’s ability to protect its citizens, build confidence in law-enforcement, and improve the efficiency of regional intelligence gathering.
In the meantime, Minister of National Security Peter Bunting lauded the partnership between Jamaica and Canada over the years, saying it has have proved beneficial to all involved.
“We look forward for it (partnership) growing and we believe that it is going to be integral in terms of changing the game, changing the paradigm of the quality of professionals that we have in the police force,” he said.
