McKenzie

Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie has informed Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin that motor vehicles seized by the security forces will no longer be welcomed at the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation's (KSAC) pound.

The decision taken was revealed yesterday by acting Town Clerk Lincoln Evans. It comes in the wake of the recent challenge by a motorist following the seizure of his vehicle which was transported from Morant Bay, St Thomas, for safekeeping at the pound operated by the KSAC in downtown Kingston.

"The mayor has written to the commissioner of police to inform him that we will not be accepting any unit taken to the pound by members of the police," Evans told The Gleaner.

"It is very unfair for the KSAC to be taking the blame for actions that are out of our control."

He added: "We have no control over what the police does, if the police are extorting individuals we have no control over it."

The seizure in question occurred when Michael Williamson admitted to parking his motor car in a no-parking area in the town of Morant Bay and left to conduct business.

On his return, he saw a wrecker approach his car, preparing to tow the vehicle.

According to Williamson, he approached the group of Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) policemen, who had accompanied the wrecker, identified himself as the owner of the car, and stated his willingness to accept the ticket that the offence attracted.

This was, however, refused and his vehicle, along with another car parked in the same vicinity, was placed on the wrecker truck and, despite his protest, taken to the KSAC pound.

For its services, the wrecker company slapped Williamson with a fee of $26,900, while the other driver was hit with a $30,000 fee.

No information

Byron Powell, deputy superintendent of police in charge of administration at the Traffic Division, told The Gleaner that his unit had no information on any of the operations conducted by the members of the ISCF.

"As the admin officer here, I have never gotten any schedule of where they are going or what they are doing," Powell said. "Under the present regime, they don't report to us."

Describing the operation in St Thomas as a "legitimate operation," deputy commandant for the ISCF, James Golding, said: "We don't have to report to (DSP) Powell. My boss reports to the commissioner of police."

Pressed for an explanation as to why the wrecker service in question was constantly being used by the ISCF, the deputy commandant said: "I can tell you that we have had four operations and I can tell you also that we plan to have a circuit of similar operations across the length and breadth of this country."