The modernisation of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is one of the major prongs of the ongoing Jamaica Justice System Reform Project.

One of the recommendations is to develop a network to integrate the office of the DPP. I am not sure what is meant by this specifically, but I recommend that a regionalisation of the office of DPP be considered.

The regionalisation process would see, in the first instance, an office being established in strategic areas across Jamaica, such as Montego Bay, Mandeville, St Ann's Bay, Spanish Town and Port Antonio. Each office would be headed by a senior DPP, with each such senior DPP being assisted by a deputy and a junior, at a minimum. Ultimately, we could probably have an office based in each parish.

Modernisation

The regionalisation or decentralisation of the office of the DPP would help to allow the office to more efficiently and effectively administer the criminal justice system and processes in Jamaica.

As part of the regionalisation and modernisation of the office of the DPP, there should be a highly trained chief or senior police detective in each region operating closely with or out of the DPP's office in said region so as to better prepare criminal cases. After all, the work of the DPP is largely dependent on the quality of the investigation done by the police.

I am, etc.,

KEVIN KO SANGSTER

sangstek@msn.com