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(a)
A Commissioner who shall have the sole
operational command and superintendence of
the Force;”
By virtue of subsection (2A),
“The Minister may give to the Commissioner directions as to
the policy to be followed by the Force.”
Subsection (3) empowers the Minister to establish certain ranks but it is the
Commissioner who determines the command and duties of members of the
Force in the ranks so established.
Measures taken by the JCF
7.14.
During the course of his evidence, CoP Ellington said that, upon
receipt of the warrant for Coke’s arrest, the JCF took a member of steps aimed
at preventing a violent confrontation. These are discussed at (i) to (iv) below.
(i) Public Appeals through the Media
7.15.
On 17 May, the JCF’s Director of Communications issued a Press
Release stating that,
inter alia
, “police offices have been bombarded by citizens
reporting threats on businesses and vital infrastructures”. The Director appealed
“to all to remain calm and not to circulate false information capable of generating
panic….”.
7.16.
On 19 May, the Director appealed to law abiding citizens of Tivoli
Gardens and Denham Town “to report concerns and information coming to their
notice”. This was in response to the JCF’s becoming aware that criminal
elements, since 17 May, had blocked entry points into Tivoli Gardens and
Denham Town and reinforced barricades “by barbed wire attached to high
voltage electricity distribution lines”. The Press Release also mentioned the
insertion of LPG cylinders within barricades and that “law abiding citizens are