Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Zone of Special Operations Declared in Parade Gardens
#Kingston, January 9, 2022 – A Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) has been declared in Parade Gardens, Kingston for 60 days.
Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, who made the announcement at a digital press conference on Sunday (January 9), informed that there was “more than reasonable cause” to undertake the security operation, based on rampant criminality, gang warfare, escalating violence and murder, and threat to the rule of law and public order in the community.
The boundaries of the ZOSO are: North – beginning at the East Street/East Queen Street intersection and extending in an easterly direction along East Queen Street to the intersection with lower South Camp Road; East – in southerly direction along South Camp Road to the intersection with Harbour Street; South – in a westerly direction along Harbour Street to the intersection with East Street; and West, in a northerly direction along East Street, terminating at intersection with East Queen Street.
At dawn today (January 9), Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) personnel were deployed to sections of Parade Gardens, which is situated in the Kingston Central Police Division.
Mr. Holness emphasised that the ZOSO is a long-term legislative tool designed to intervene in circumstances where geographically defined communities have been “captured by criminal elements”.
Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson, indicated that ongoing violence in the Division, stemming from an ongoing gang feud, has raised significant concerns.
“The level of gun violence has contributed to fear in the community and the deaths of a number of members, relatives and affiliates of the two gangs that have been feuding in that space since last year,” he informed.
The Commissioner noted that between January 1 and December 31, 2021, the Division recorded 79 murders, which is an average of about three murders every two weeks. He told journalists that this was a 55 per cent increase over the figure for the corresponding period in 2020, and the second highest spike among all police divisions.
“The Parade Gardens community recorded 16 of these murders and is ranked among the top 10 communities with the highest number of murders across the country. A number of these killings have been perpetrated by and on persons who grew up together and have subsequently chosen a life of violence where they resolve conflicts by murder,” he said.
The Commissioner assured that the JCF, JDF and other stakeholders will continue to use the tools available to the
Parade Gardens is the island’s sixth ZOSO, with the others previously being established in Denham Town, West Kingston; Norwood and Mount Salem, St James; and Greenwich Town and August Town, St. Andrew.
Under The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act, an area can be declared a ZOSO once there is rampant criminality, gang warfare, escalating violence and murder, and a threat to the rule of law.
The law allows for measures to contain crime while safeguarding the human rights of residents and promoting community development through social intervention initiatives in communities where the operation is being undertaken.
An area can be declared a ZOSO by the Prime Minister after being advised in writing by the Chief of Defence Staff and Commissioner of Police.
Contact: Alecia Smith
Release: JIS
Header: Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness (left), fields questions from journalists during a digital press conference on Sunday (January 9). With him (from second left) are Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang; Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Senator the Hon. Mathew Samuda; and Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson.
Insert: Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, highlights a matter of interest while addressing a digital press conference on Sunday (January 9).
Photos: Rudranath Fraser