Jamaica: State of emergency declared in 3 parishes

CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness Tuesday announced a 14-day State of Public Emergency (SOE) for the parishes of Hanover, St. James and Clarendon, as the authorities move to deal with an upsurge in criminal activities.

“We must come together as a nation to fight against criminality. I urge every citizen to share information and fully cooperate with the security forces. Together, we can make Jamaica a safer place,” Holness said.

The SOE enables the security forces, including the JDF, to conduct targeted operations aimed at disrupting and dismantling criminal gangs and their networks, as well as preventing serious crimes.

In December last year, Holness reimposed SOEs in several parishes, citing increased criminal activities and a threat to property and in some instances, public disorder. St. James and Clarendon were among those parishes.

National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang, is urging citizens to regard the enhanced security measures as an opportunity to join the fight against criminality.

“We call upon every citizen, not just those living in the affected areas, to support these security measures. By standing united, we will win the war on guns, gunmen, and gangs,” Chang said.

A government statement said that Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, acting on the advice of the Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson and the Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, authorised the declaration of the SOEs for an initial period of 14 days, commencing at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16.

“The Clarendon Police Division has witnessed a significant increase in murders and shooting incidents with a 67 per cent increase in murders and a 41 per cent increase in shooting incidents as of May 14, compared to the same period last year. This necessitates the declaration of a State of Public Emergency,” said Anderson.

He said regarding the St. James Division “although experiencing a decline in murders by 27 per cent, the parish still had the highest number of murders across all police divisions, with a total of 69 recorded. The division also had the fourth highest number of shooting incidents, with 34 incidents during the same period last year.

“The Hanover Division witnessed the highest increase in murders, with a 75 per cent rise as of May 14, compared to the same period in 2022″, the Police Commissioner added.

The Chief of Defence Staff said that “the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) stands behind the recommendation for the declaration of a State of Public Emergency, covering the parishes of Hanover, St. James, and Clarendon.”

“We are committed to working closely with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to secure our nation.”

Jamaica has recorded 409 murders so far this year as compared with 489 for the comparison period last year. There have been 336 shootings so far this year as against 389 last year.

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