Presentation by MCOC President Winston Lawson to Police Effective Driving Course Graduates

Presentation by MCOC President Winston Lawson to Police Effective Driving Course Graduates

Chairman....good afternoon  

Let me first all say thanks to Supt Salmon for the kind invitation to address you, not exactly the best of notice…but how do I say no to the super? Not when he always responds positively when the Chamber calls on him and his team to support us.

But it is always a good feeling to be amongst the police force, you get that feel of security. Unfortunately, not as much today as you used to because the criminals today are so brazen, they attack anytime, anywhere on anyone. Many times in your reports we are told of criminals taking on an armed policeman with a machete. Now if that is not brazen and crazy I do not know what is.

I also want to express our commendations to the graduates here this morning. All who have earned themselves a responsibility to operate motor vehicles on behalf of the police force. Congratulations, well done and the Chamber encourages you to carry out those functions effectively and cautiously.

I am happy to say that the Manchester Chamber is a friend of the police. I remember a colleague Chamber President saying that if he has to side with either the police or the criminal…he is siding with the Police. Well I say “me too”.

It is no secret that the Chamber has been moving with its very best effort to give as much support as possible to the Manchester Police. In fact the Chamber has even formalised through memorandums of understanding how we can partner with each other to help each other as best as possible.

The Closed to Crime Initiative which commenced while Supt Michael James was Division Head for Manchester. It followed through smoothly with Supt Martin Baylis and it is still going well under your current leadership of Supt Ryland Salmon.

The Chamber was able to mobilize and lobby for funds and support to assist the Manchester Police with motorized fleet, an upgraded Investigative Unit, an Intelligence Unit, which I understand also assists with Clarendon and St Elizabeth issues and now we are on our last leg with that of the Closed Circuit Television Cameras.

The cameras are costly…no let me say the cameras are extremely costly… but they are worth it. I believe they will be an important tool in assisting in your efforts to fight crime.

The Chamber is still some $2mil short of our target to pay for the cameras. I was bit scared to say this to this grouping and I will not appeal to this grouping for funding because I believe you also have your own funding or salary issues at this time trying to resolve. Am I right?

You know I want to touch on that a little. I alluded to it just two days ago at another address I did in Mandeville.

Inflation…Inflation…should never be the major influence for a pay increase. Personal financial obligations should never be the major influence for a pay increase.

A pay increase must always go hand in hand with improved productivity. A pay increase must always go hand in hand with improved service. 

I hope you understand what I am saying.

Or do not misunderstand what I am saying. Because no employee should be subject to poor, substandard or unsafe working conditions. It is a shame to see some of the conditions of stations over the years. That is downright unacceptable.
The right of workers should never be abused and always be upheld.

But I want to drive home the point that despite the challenges, we as workers do also have a duty to craft, strategise and commit in improving our service, our conduct and our productivity to also improve our earnings.

I mentioned conduct. You know in the majority of incidents in the USA when persons are offensive to Police, the reaction of the Police is firm and sometimes forceful but hardly ever disrespectful.
The Police will say “Sir would you step out of the car”, or “ Sir I am not going to tell you again” ….and don’t ever think that it is because they are soft. Because they are not. It is a conduct that is necessary in providing a service…Police service.

I am talking about the boxes and the kicking and the gun butting.
Too often we talk about “aa Bwoy” or “guh a you yard now!”…to prove who is boss.

And it hurts… it pains my heart to see when police sink to the levels of those we fear. And in those cases we really have a hard time telling the difference between the two.

Yes I know what you thinking. Cho Mr Lawson no know what him saying.

I am saying you have been trained and trained well. You have the responsibility and knowledge of when and how much force is necessary. Do not abuse it, let us return to the days of role modelship let us return to the days when police officers were role models.

You know another Banker and I were telling a friend in construction the other day that there is no other job as stressful as Banking. He said Winston you are crazy; you need to try construction. The other Banker said well at least when they upset you, you can let them know exactly how you feel. The banker has to bite his lip and smile.

But let me tell you and I guess I don’t have to. There is no tougher job in Jamaica today, than the job of a police officer.. None.

You have not only the toughest but one that ranks extremely high in importance.

You are the protectors of Gods most precious Gift to mankind. You are the protectors of Life.

No one can debate that such a level of responsibility should be well compensated.

No one can debate as well, that any group with such a level of responsibility should ever allow corruption to take over.

You have got to rid yourselves of the corrupt amongst you. Continued corruption restrains the effort to rebrand the force, to rebuild the confidence of those you serve, confidence we have in you, it hurts your own efforts to build support in areas of remuneration injustices, poor and substandard resources and so much more.

So we support the various moves to facilitate the elimination of corruption within the force.


You know, I am thankful that the Manchester Police continue to serve us well. I want to commend the Manchester Police for this. Because we are not ignorant to your plight and the risks you take every hour of the day, on our behalf.

The Chamber has taken note of your launched community policing activities. You and I know that it is not soft policing. We recognize that you are taking it community by community and we want to be there to help as well. In fact, we also have committed to work with the Ministers Fraternal and various other stakeholders to look at the social interventions that are necessary. And I know the Manchester police also has representation on that initiative.

We support and recognize many steps you have taken to facilitate the transmission of anonymous information Crime Stop is a good one that comes to mind. Keep expanding the channels and allow for the relevant information to apprehend the criminals to be forthcoming.

You know despite the tough times and the severity of the challenges, never forget to give God thanks.

I tell you a story about “man who was standing outside and he was just constantly being stung by these small stones being hit against him.  He became very upset and cursed God to say why has he allowed all these stones to hit him.
Interestingly when he turned around he saw a angel using her wings to successfully shield him against some large boulders. It was only the little chips off the boulders that were reaching the man.”

So be thankful. In fact be happy. It is so important that you allow happiness to flow through you. And when I say happiness. I am talking about genuine happiness
It is said that happiness is not a result, but a cause.

You can fill your life with excitement and thrills, but those things on their own will not make you happy. You can load yourself up with material possessions, yet they are no substitute for being genuinely happy.

Happiness is not something for which you must wait until the conditions are right. If you wait for a reason before allowing yourself to be happy, that reason will likely never come. Yet when you can be happy even though there's no reason for it, pretty soon an abundance of reasons will appear.

You have a tough job...the toughest. Studies have been done to determine some typical things which make it easier for one to be happy in their job. You may not be able to have all of them, but they are good guides for happiness in your job. Here there are:
•    Having a variety of tasks to do.
•    Using your strengths
•    Being able to get things done.
•    Having some control over your work: managing your own time and make decisions on what you do when.
•    Learning new things.
•    Getting feedback on your performance and being thanked for what you have done.
•    Having friends at work.
•    Knowing what's expected of you. Being given clear goals and tasks.
•    Having a career which embodies your values.
•    Living close to where you work!
Money is really not that important once you have enough to meet all your basic requirements. Extra money doesn't make you much happier. Having your finances under control (e.g. not being overburdened in debt) is more important than a large wage
It not what you earn but what you spend.

I give you another story I heard recently. This one tries to drive home the importance of financial planning and management and how badly many of us are at this.
The exercise is to get a large piece of paper about the size of the room. And get a small piece of paper as well, very small. You will also need a pen and two phensic.
Now on the large piece of paper write down all the income that has passed through you since your working life. Everything. Now take one of the phensic.
Next on the small sheet of paper write down everything you have saved since your working life. And then take the other phensic. Maybe you will want to take two more at that point.
Its not what you earn its what you spend.
I will tell you that studies have also shown that there is a higher occurrence of depression in those who think happiness comes via money, fame, and beauty.
It was a Professor by the name of Martin Seligman who said "People who value money, more than other goals are less satisfied with their income and with their lives as a whole."

Food for thought.

Graduates, one and all, the Manchester Chamber again express congratulations. We are looking forward to your professional and effective service, and we want to know and we would be happy to know that you are the latest addition to the enviable and distinguished list of role models in Manchester and indeed Jamaica land we love.

Thank you and God bless you.