GOVERNOR GENERAL REAPPOINTS ALL PCOA MEMBERS
KINGSTON — All seven members of the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) have been reappointed by the Governor-General to serve a new five-year term, effective August 23.
The reappointments were made in consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The decision restores the Authority to its full statutory complement of seven members – the maximum allowed under the Police Civilian Oversight Authority Act of 2005.
Mrs. Jacqueline Hinkson, continues her tenure as Chairman, while the other returning members are: Glen Samuels; Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Peter Brady; Ms. Vivette Miller; Professor Hon. Terrence Forrester; Mr. Norman Heywood; and, Gladstone Lewars.
The Authority’s composition satisfies all statutory requirements outlined in the PCOA Act: Professor Forrester and Ms. Miller fulfill the mandate requiring dual representation on the Police Service Commission (PSC). Mr. Lewars, who has served on the Authority since its inception in 2005, meets the requirement for a qualified accountant, while Mr. Heywood, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, provides specialized security operations experience.
Additionally, by law, the Authority convenes at least once per month for ten months out of the year. To date, the Authority has already held 8 members’ meetings
Meanwhile, during its preceding term, the Authority marshalled several major initiatives, including the implementation of the Station Monitoring Programme, which highlights the direct link between consistent monitoring and adherence to Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) policies and procedures.
Additionally, the Transforming Our Police Service (TOPS) Competition – now in its eighth year – has grown from strength to strength to become the Authority’s flagship initiative. Groundbreaking thematic inspections focusing on specialized units, including the Marine Division, Canine Division, and the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), were also successfully undertaken alongside the staging of the inaugural Hon. Oliver F. Clarke Memorial Lecture.
Established by Parliament in 2005 and operational since 2007, the PCOA is Jamaica’s primary civilian body tasked with monitoring the implementation of standards, procedures, and policy compliance across the JCF.