Government Senator, Don Wehby, says leaders of several private sector organisations have indicated their support for the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act, 2017. These, he said, include the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ); Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC); Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA); and Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA). “I feel very passionate...

At a  marathon sitting lasting 12 hours, the Senate on Friday (July 7) passed the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill, 2017,  giving the Government  a critical arsenal in the fight against crime. The Bill was approved with 13 amendments, following vigorous debate and rigorous deliberations by the members of the Upper House,...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Robert Montague, says repairs will be carried out on two dormitories at Twickenham Park, and four rooms are being built at Harmon Barracks to accommodate more recruits for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). “That would give them (Harmon Barracks) the capacity for 200 recruits, and with two batches per year, this would give them 400...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Robert Montague, says intelligence is showing that there is a reduction in guns and ammunition coming into the island, due to the two ships and surveillance plane acquired by the Government. According to Mr. Montague, the Government is equipping the security forces so that criminal elements will have no cover from the law. Earlier this...

The Government will be bringing to Parliament soon, a Bill to establish the National Security Council (NSC) into law. This was disclosed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during a sitting of the House of Representatives on June 28. He was making his contribution to the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures)...

More than 5,000 persons have benefited from the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) III since its implementation in 2014. Of the number, over 2,000 were deemed to be at medium or high risk for involvement in crime and violence. Counselling services were provided for 1,000 persons; 404 received vocational skills training; 226 benefited from employment internships; and another 158...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that additional resources will be provided to the security forces for implementation of social intervention programmes as part of efforts to address crime. “The Government will have to provide resources to the police, to the army and to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA),” he said. “More so, we will...

Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Pearnel Charles Jr., is calling on non-profit organisations such as service clubs to partner with the Government in the rehabilitation of inmates. Mr. Charles, who was speaking at a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of St. Andrew North at the Institute of Chartered Accountants on Ruthven Road, said the...

Chairman of the Private Security Regulation Authority (PSRA), Dr. Ronald Robinson, has highlighted the importance of regulatory reform and the training of regulatory professionals in improving how Government functions. Regulatory reform refers to changes that help improve regulatory quality, that is, enhance the performance, cost-effectiveness, or legal quality of regulations and related government formalities. Such reform creates an environment that...