Ken Jones (right), The Gleaner's Silver Pen winner for the month of August, looks at a framed copy of his winnng 'Letter to the Editor' along with the company's Managing Editor, Jenni Campbell. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Former Gleaner columnist, Ken Jones, is the winner of The Gleaner's prestigious Silver Pen award for the month of August. He won for his letter to the editor titled, 'Dual citizenship an international trend'.

Yesterday, Mr. Jones, after accepting his award, posited that the post of the commissioner of police should be publicly advertised. He argued that there is a drawback when a the commissioner comes through the ranks. As such, he said, someone outside the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) should be considered.

"There may be good men in there (JCF), but I believe that there is a drawback when the commissioner comes from the ranks - when you come up making friends from constable to corporal, sergeant, this friend thing (may affect leadership)," Mr. Jones said.

The current Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas, is due to leave office at the end of the month. Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, chief of staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, will demit office on October 27.

Each month, The Gleaner presents a Silver Pen Award to a writer of the 'Letter Of The Day'. Mr. Jones, who regularly pens letters to the newspaper, said that his next correspondence may be on the appointment of the police commissioner.

Mr. Jones congratulated the newspaper company for the award. The former Gleaner columnist, public opinion editor and publisher said that this award coincided with his 60th year in journalism.

"With all of these things (journalistic work), I have never got a memento to leave to my grandchildren and say, 'See I was a writer'," the grandfather of six said.