Spanish training for rank-and-file members of the JCF
Published:Wednesday | March 21, 2018 | 12:00 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
Over 60 members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) from the rank of constable to sergeant are to benefit from a two-day Spanish workshop, designed to prepare them to speak a second language, as part of the force's thrust to create a more dynamic and modern police service.
The workshop was organised by the Jamaica Police Federation under the theme 'Maximising Education, Embracing Training and Development Spanish in Law Enforcement'.
State Minister in the Ministry of National Security Pearnel Charles Jr hailed the workshop as a groundbreaking and seminal event that should not be ignored.
"This is truly what we call moving the JCF to the cutting edge of the global village to confront the challenges we face in this global economy," said Charles. "This marks, hopefully, the first of a series of workshops geared at preparing the members of the JCF to operate in a dynamic and modern police environment," he noted.
"Outside of building bilingual capacity, this training programme, initiated by the federation, deserves high commendation as it seeks to position members' real personal and professional growth.
"Critical to this is the approach taken by the National Police College in rolling out relevant and critical programmes targeting the skill set needed to position JCF members as leading law-enforcement members across the region," Charles noted.
Some members of the force have already begun learning Mandarin as part of a strategic plan to create multilingual officers able to carry out their duties under circumstances that otherwise would require outside help.
Multilingual members of the JCF will be in a position to serve in court proceedings, to serve as interpreters, where language is a barrier to effective communication as well as to make the police service more marketable.