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National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, says the Government remains committed to mobilizing all the resources at its disposal to wage a “relentless war” against criminal elements “intent on destroying our nation.” To this end, he says the administration is currently exploring the possible resumption of hanging. Noting that it forms part of the crime prevention strategies aimed at creating...

National Security Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, and Police Commissioner, Dr. Carl Williams, have expressed regret over the death of Corporal Judith Williams, who was shot by gunmen on Bray Street in Kingston, on April 28. Also expressing regret is the United States Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Luis G. Moreno. Speaking with journalists at the National Police College of Jamaica,...

The Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Branch (CTOC) has seized $1.5 billion worth of items found in breach of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), over the past 12 months. Deputy Commander of CTOC, Senior Superintendent Clifford Chambers, said that the items seized resulted from 32 major operations conducted islandwide, which led to 112 interviews, 25 arrests for serious IPR breaches...

The St. James police are receiving wide-scale support for their move to implement a curfew for students in the parish. Under the new directive from Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in charge of the parish, Steve McGregor, all students 17 years and younger must be off the streets by 9:00 p.m. The only exception is if the child is in...

The St. James police are warning that there will be no safe haven for criminals in the parish and is calling on residents to ostracise them from the communities. “One of the best forms of ostracism is a thing called social sanction,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in charge of the parish, Steve McGregor. “When the criminals get the...

A total of $200 million will be spent this fiscal year to continue construction and improvement work, at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Lathbury Barracks, at Up Park Camp. This is contained in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. Anticipated targets for this fiscal year include continuing construction on the first and second three storey...

A total of $3 million has been allocated to the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Local Offender and Deported Persons Programme, to complete outstanding payment activities. As outlined in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the programme seeks to: reduce the rate of re-offending among local offenders and deportees; improve the rehabilitation and reintegration of deportees...

A total of $1.2 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of National Security, to purchase vital equipment needed for the maintenance of law and order. This is contained in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. The Estimates were recently tabled by the Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw. Of the...

The Government has set aside $510 million in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives, to boost the operations of the Jamaica Defence Force. Of the total amount, $350 million will be given to the Coast Guard, to facilitate the refitting of offshore patrol vessels. Another $100 million will be allocated to the Air Wing, to...

Jamaica’s ability to effectively communicate during a maritime or aviation emergency was tested in an islandwide simulation exercise held earlier this month. The five-day exercise, conducted simultaneously in Port Antonio and Ocho Rios, was led by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in collaboration with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ). It involved several local and overseas...

A sum of $150.02 million has been allocated in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure for the Caribbean Anti-Corruption Programme. As outlined in the Estimates, now before the House of Representatives, the project is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), to support the work of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM). Anticipated targets for the fiscal year include increasing...

Two of the island’s correctional facilities are slated to be improved this fiscal year through a $253 million allocation to the Construction and Improvement of Correctional Facilities project, in the Ministry of National Security. As contained in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the money will go towards completing construction of the new 306-bed dormitory...