Opposition Senator K D Knight has described as wrong and ridiculous comments made by National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang likening the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to a "glorified security guard system."

Chang, who was addressing a forum last week, said the JCF was largely designed to protect the interest of property owners "where we trained them for six months in military drill, gave them some discipline, gave them a big pine baton and a Lee Enfield rifle and then we complain that they shoot or beat up somebody."

Knight, who was speaking in the Senate today during the debate on the extension of the state of public emergency in the Corporate Area, said the comment is an indication that Chang has no confidence in the policemen and women who have to ensure that the emergency powers are successful.

"It is wrong. It is ridiculous," said Knight, a former minister of national security.

In addition, he said the comment is an indication that Chang, and by extension the government, are abandoning the police.

"He never went on to say what he and the government plan to do to change things," the former national security minister said.

"If you are abandoning the police you can't implement a state of emergency," he said.

"Minister, retract. Be strong and retract because what you say can have a negative impact on all of us," he added.

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