States of Emergency reimposed in seven parishes in Jamaica

Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday announced the reimposition of 14-day states of public emergency (SOEs) in St James, Westmoreland, Hanover, St Ann, Clarendon, St Catherine and sections of Kingston and St Andrew.

Holness says the crime threat level against Jamaicans remains elevated, and the SOEs are aimed at continuing to tame crime in those areas.

“While we have had reasonable success in controlling the number of murders leading up to and during the Christmas season, the threat levels for ongoing gang conflicts, contract killings, organised robberies of businesses, hijacking of goods in transit and various confidence scams that ultimately lead to the loss of life, spreading of fear and depriving entire communities of their freedoms pursuing their own business and happiness… remains elevated and expensive in scale,” said Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

During a press briefing at Jamaica House, Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson said the country is now averaging four murders daily.