A State of Emergency (SOE) has been declared within the parishes of Hanover, St. Catherine, and Clarendon, along with St. James, which has its SOE prolonged.
In a press release, Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated the Governor Common Sir Patrick Allen approved the SOEs upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police and the Chief of Defence Workers. The SOEs will initially final for 14 days, commencing at 12:01 on November 23, 2023.
Main Common Antony Anderson, Commissioner of Police outlined the alarming state of affairs in these divisions: “The Clarendon Police Division recorded the fifth-highest variety of murders (99) amongst all police divisions, marking a 14% improve in comparison with the identical interval in 2022. Clarendon and St. Catherine, being adjoining parishes, intensify our considerations, accounting for twenty-four% of the nation’s murders because the starting of the 12 months.”
“Within the St. James police division, the very best variety of murders throughout all divisions was recorded, totaling 100 and sixty-nine (169) from January 1 to November 15, 2023. This division additionally skilled the very best variety of capturing incidents, totaling 100 and one (101) throughout the identical interval. The adjacency of St. James and Hanover additional exacerbates the state of affairs, with their mixed geographical space accounting for twenty % (20%) of the nation’s murders because the 12 months’s begin.”
An SOE was imposed in St. James after the November 8 declaration however expired Tuesday, November 21.
Govt urges Jamaicans to cooperate with safety forces
Dr. Horace Chang, the Minister of Nationwide Safety, urged the general public to understand these measures as a united stand towards crime. “We name on residents nationwide to again these efforts. Collectively, as a nation, we are able to overcome these prison parts,” he emphasised.
Prime Minister Holness harassed the very important position of neighborhood cooperation in cauterizing crime. “The cooperation of each Jamaican is important. We should unite to make sure our nation’s security. These measures are non permanent however vital in augmenting the efforts of our safety forces, which have yielded important outcomes. The federal government continues to spend money on enhancing our nation’s safety infrastructure,” he acknowledged.
“The SOEs allow the safety forces, together with the JDF, to conduct focused operations aimed toward dismantling prison networks and curbing murders. The federal government assures the general public that the security and safety of all Jamaicans stay its highest precedence.”
