Jamaica’s opposition party supports crime fighting initiative

The main opposition in Jamaica, the People’s National Party, (PNP) says it supports the government’s decision to implement a State of Emergency in the western parish of St. James.

Near state of anarchy

In a release on Thursday, the party’s spokesman on National Security, Fitz Jackson said the parish –  home to the tourist capital of Montego Bay, had “reached a near state of anarchy which could not be allowed to persist.”

He said Jamaicans have been calling for a response from Government throughout last year, when 1617 Jamaicans were murdered and already more than 63 persons have been killed since the start of this year.

“The main victims of this wave of unchecked criminality are the ordinary citizens of St James who have been abused and murdered in this atmosphere of wanton violence,” said PNP president and opposition leader, Dr. Peter Phillips.

Qualified support

The Oppositon party says it lends qualified support to this effort and will await the regulations governing the operations of the State of Emergency which are required to be placed before the Parliament.

“The Party is insisting that a robust, accessible and viable mechanism to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens during the operations must be in place.”

“Every effort must be made by the security forces to be vigilant, courageous, and determined in confronting the criminal threat, even as they are protective of the rights and interests of the law -abiding citizens of the parish,” Jackson said.