MoBay cop lauded by tourism stakeholders

Nagra Plunkett , Hospitality Jamaica Writer

CONTRIBUTED-Superintendent Warren Clarke

TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS in Montego Bay are expressing growing confidence in the leadership of Superintendent Warren Clarke, Commanding Officer for the St. James Police Division.

"He's an action man! Superintendent Clarke has made a big difference on the Hip Strip (Gloucester Avenue) in cleaning up harassment and petty crimes," said Brian Jardim, chief
executive officer of Margaritaville Caribbean.

SECURE THE TOWN

On June 1 2005, four weeks into his charge of the parish, Supt. Clarke overhauled the division and established five sub-operational commands, headquartered at Montego Bay, Coral Gardens, Mount Salem, Anchovy and Sangster International Airport, to enhance its crime-fighting capacity.

"Our aim is to make the city and by extension the prescribed areas under the Tourist Board Act, unfriendly to criminal elements. We aim to simultaneously secure the town and other areas, however, expediency demands that we place immediate emphasis on these prescribed areas," the officer had disclosed in an earlier interview.

CITIZEN-FOCUSED SERVICE

He also pledged a citizen-focussed service by his personnel with an improved standard of delivery, more intense citizen interaction and ultimately increased public confidence in the police.

The restructuring exercise has since reported significant achievement in reducing the high incidence of crimes across St. James.

According to Mr. Jardim, the commanding officer was integral in the negotiations to have Royal Caribbean Cruise Line commit a new 4000-passenger vessel for weekly calls in the resort town as of June.

Several other business interests in the second city have echoed their appreciation for his leadership style.

CITY CLEAN-UP

Horace Peterkin, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), added his own endorsement for the policeman.

"The entire city of Montego Bay has experienced a clean-up I would say over the last three months and this is the first time that I am seeing the kind of strategic planning that has gone into policing an area. Superintendent Clarke is a very smart cop," he maintained.

"He observes, plans properly and also ensures that the execution is properly supervised, which is one of the things we used to lack in the past. He is definitely a modern policeman and we would love to keep him here for as long as possible."