The Minister of the Police

Minister of Home Affairs Clement James Rohee has upped and moved himself to Eve Leary and it appears that the move has created an outbreak of “the jitters” among the Police Force’s Top Brass. It means that they will have to whip themselves into shape and that means, among other things, not driving cars belonging to people other than themselves, going easy on the drinks at the Officers’ mess and saluting the Honourable Minister on sight.

We are told that Mr. Rohee’s office ‘digs’ in Brickdam are under repairs but you have to wonder whether he had to take up temporary accommodation at Eve Leary………..in close proximity to the room now occupied by Acting Commissioner Brummel. Might it might not have been more appropriate for him to be temporarily accommodated elsewhere in some other appropriate government building rather than have him move in with the police?

Mr. Rohee may argue, of course, that there are some countries in which his portfolio is described, variously, as the Minister of the Interior or the Minister of the Police and that there is really nothing wrong with him locating himself at Eve Leary. On the other hand, given the constitutional provision that precludes him from interfering in the day-to-day operational goings-on in the GPF one has to wonder whether his new temporary accommodation does not send a decidedly unwholesome message to the nation as a whole; and since it is hard to believe   that Eve Leary was the only place with suitable accommodation for CJR, it leaves open the issue as to what other motive he would have for taking up lodgings there.

Mind you there is already a good deal of healthy speculation that Clement James may have decided that he now needs to keep the Force under closer scrutiny now that it seems that there may be no recall for Henry Greene.            A section of the print media whose reporting on police matters suggests that it may have good connections inside the belly of the Force reported recently that the Minister now wants “widespread integrity testing,”………….whatever that means.  Word is that it might include lie detector tests from Top to Bottom and asset audits amongst the Top Brass too determine who is living on their police earnings and who is not.

While he’s been at it Minister Rohee has also taken control of the issuing of firearm licences by setting up a new Board to clear people for guns. Mind you, nothing wrong with measures to control guns since one does get the impression that a licensed firearm has now become an extension of manhood. You’d be surprised to know the people who are carrying guns these days.

Where the problem arises is in the likelihood that Mr. Rohee’s move to control gun licences might well be subjected to different interpretations so that the Honourable Minister needs to understand that clear criteria and strict adherence to those criteria will be required.

More than that Mr. Rohee has signed on more men to the Force by putting the Commissioner in charge of private Security Guards. From now on whoever wants to set up a security guard service talks to the Commissioner.

One thing that Mr. Rohee might wish to do while during his stay at Eve Leary is to run a check for bugs. Remember Sir, it was bugging, among other things that brought down the last Top Cop but one.

Let’s spare a thought for the sentries too! The poor devils will have to be saluting Clement James’ car every time he rolls in and out of Eve Leary.