Government and Security Forces Remain Resolute in Fight Against Criminals

The Government and security forces have given their commitment to continue efforts to eliminate criminal activities, even with the expiration of the current state of public emergency (SOE) looming.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who visited members of the security forces at several SOE checkpoints in the Kingston Eastern Division on Monday (November 28), said all stakeholders remain resolute to stamp out those criminal elements that pose a threat to public safety.

The SOEs, which are now in effect in Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover and specified areas of Kingston and St. Andrew, will expire today (November 29), at midnight.

“With the expiration of the SOEs… the Commissioner [of Police] has given me his commitment… and the Chief of Defence Staff has given me her commitment that even without the powers, that you are going to continue to redouble your efforts to keep Jamaicans safe, and that is the objective. We want to keep Jamaicans safe,” he told members of the security forces.

Mr. Holness said the joint operations of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) have proven an effective crime deterrent in the strategic locations where they have been stationed.

Deputy Prime Minister and National Security Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, and Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, also accompanied the Prime Minister on the visit.

Both emphasised that all avenues will be explored to ensure the safety of all law-abiding Jamaicans.

Minister Malahoo Forte commended the security forces for their exemplary execution of directives.

“From what I am seeing, I am proud of the men and women of the two forces. You have been trained and you are executing well,” she said.

For his part, Dr. Chang said the SOE in the area has been “working very well”, noting that the area, which stretches from Bull Bay to East Kingston, poses a challenge to policing activities.

“The SOE gave them the additional extra push to reduce their numbers significantly… . We have seen significant changes in the area. [With the] SOE, it is definitely demonstrating the effectiveness of the joint operations, and the extra powers that they had helped to control and reduce violence in the communities,” he said.

Giving an update on activities in the area, Superintendent of Police, Kingston Eastern Division, Tommie-Lee Chambers, pledged her continued commitment to protecting citizens.

“Despite the challenges that we face in these inner-city communities, we have good decent law-abiding citizens who are depending on us for that reassurance, so it is a must that we have to be out there to give them that reassurance,” she said.