#Kingstgon, April 30, 2019 – Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced States of Public Emergency (SOEs) for the parishes of Westmoreland, Hanover and St. James.
“After
careful consideration and review of the crime statistics, in particular violent
crimes which have been committed in some western parishes, the security forces
have advised that the current situation would warrant the Government advising
the Governor-General to declare/proclaim States of Public Emergency,” the Prime
Minister said, during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on
Tuesday (April 30).
Mr. Holness
said the Governor-General has declared that a State of Public Emergency exist
in the community of the entire area comprising the parishes of St. James,
Hanover and Westmoreland.
“This
proclamation shall, unless previously revoked, remain in place for 14 days or
for such longer period not exceeding three months,” the Governor-General said.
Commissioner
of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, gave reasons for the declaration of
the SOEs. According to data outlined by
the Commissioner, between January 1 and April 28 this year, 29 persons were
murdered in Westmoreland; 27 persons were murdered in St. James and 18 persons
were murdered in Hanover.
In
2018, some 97 persons were murdered in Westmoreland; 84 persons were murdered
in Hanover and 55 persons were murdered in St. James.
“In
2018… the parish of Westmoreland was the most murder-dense place in the
country, followed by the parish of Hanover. If you look at what has happened
since the beginning of 2019, you will notice that Westmoreland is ahead.
Westmoreland is now leading, St. James has gone up 70 per cent over where it
was last year at this point, and Hanover is still significantly high,” he said.
For
his part, Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade, said at dawn
today, both the JDF and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) deployed their members
to the parishes of St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover.
The SOEs
will give the security forces temporary additional powers, including powers of
search, arrest and detention. During the SOEs, the security forces will
have the power to search, curtail operating hours of business, restrict access
to places and detain persons without a warrant.
A State of Public Emergency was first declared in
St. James on January 18, 2018 by the Prime Minister. It ended on January
31, 2019.
Contact: Ainsworth Morris
Release: JIS
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Header: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre), announces the States of Public Emergency (SOEs) for the parishes of St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland during a press conference on Tuesday (April 30), at the Office of the Prime Minister. With the Prime Minister (from left) are Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson; Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang; Attorney General, Marlene Malahoo Forte; and Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade.
Insert: Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, giving reasons for the declaration of the States of Public Emergency (SOEs), during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on Tuesday (April 30).