Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, on Sunday (June 14) declared a State of Public Emergency (SOE) in the Kingston Western and Kingston Central Police divisions. Making the announcement during a media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Media Centre, Mr. Holness said the enhanced security measure will initially last for 14 days and is a...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang says the Government stands in support of the security forces and will continue to provide the financial, legislative and other policy support measures for them to carry out their duties effectively. Yesterday (June 12) two policemen - Detective/Corporal Dane Biggs and Constable Decardo Hylton -were killed while on operation in a community...

Residents of Hellshire, in south St. Catherine, now have a police station in their community. The facility was opened on April 17, by National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, and is consistent with the Government’s improved safety and security priority, focusing on strategies and policies associated with preserving and enhancing a secure and protective environment to facilitate individual pursuits and...

The membership of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been bolstered with the addition of 195 new recruits, many of them possessing first degrees in various disciplines. As the new members take on their assignments, Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting, is urging them to make professionalism and integrity their guiding principles, in what he called a “transformed police...

Two of the country’s major correctional facilities are to be repaired and expanded this financial year. A sum of $200 million has been allocated in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, to undertake the projects. A total of $100 million will be spent to facilitate structural repairs at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre. It is anticipated...

The Ministry of National Security has partnered with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) to create job experience opportunities for at-risk youth in the Corporate Area.The initiative, which is estimated to cost $5 million, will see 20 youth from the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) receiving on the job training at the JPS over a six-month period.Of the cohort, 10...

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) says efforts have been under way to resolve the issue regarding the absence of a pharmacist in the correctional system. The DCS says checks have revealed that for nearly 20 years, there has been no established post for a pharmacist in the system, and has over the years been asking for the post to...