Acting stint almost up for JCF's Grant

Acting Police Commissioner Novelette Grant is spending her last two days in the seat of top cop for the island, but, the long-standing veteran cop could shortly create history by becoming the first female to be appointed to the position.

Grant is among more than 20 persons who have applied for the job, The Gleaner has been reliably informed. It is unclear if applications were received from outside the island and if any other woman is among the applicants.

A senior government source could provide no information to The Gleaner yesterday as to when Minister of National Security Robert Montague would make the announcement, or if Grant's time in the position could be extended.

She began occupying the hot seat days after then commissioner of police, Dr Carl Williams, in a shock announcement just before Christmas last year, told the Government he would be proceeding on to early retirement as of January 6, 2017.

Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Gordon Shirley, announced that Grant would act as to police commissioner as of January 7, 2017, for a period of 90 days. That period ends on Friday, April 6.

Grant's tenure as head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force so far has done little to stem the flow of blood which has been stalking the western end of the island. However, there has been significant visibility of cops on the roads, especially during the 2016 Christmas season, and, more recently, at the just-concluded Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships.

Grant is the second woman police to act in the post of commissioner, following in the footsteps of the now retired Jevene Bent.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com