State of Emergency could not continue indefinitely — PM

Friday, July 30, 2010

PRIME Minister Bruce Golding, despite being disappointed that Government did not get the Opposition's support for an extension of the limited State of Emergency, said the country could not rely on the measure to achieve ongoing law and order.

"We were very clear in our minds that the State of Emergency could not continue indefinitely; it could not continue for any prolonged period of time because a society must never become accustomed to living under emergency powers. It is not good.

"It is not good for the security forces to become so accustomed to relying on security powers that it becomes the routine means of dealing with criminal behaviour, but there is no doubt that the security forces started a mighty job and they achieved some positive results," Golding said on his monthly radio programme Jamaica House Live on Wednesday night.

Golding later told a female caller, who spoke in support of an extension of the State of Emergency, that he would not use legal techniques to defy getting the people's permission through a parliamentary majority.

"The Constitution allows the Cabinet to advise the governor general to impose a State of Emergency for a period not exceeding one month. Any further extension must be approved by Parliament and if Parliament took a decision not to approve a further extension I would tread very cautiously about using the technical route to say, well we can impose a new State of Emergency, because in effect it would be a defiance of Parliament.

"...There would have to be extraordinary reasons that would arise, subsequent to the expiration, for me to feel that I am on strong constitutional grounds to summon Cabinet to seek Cabinet's authorisation and thereafter to advise the governor general," said the prime minister.

The Opposition People's National Party abstained from a vote seeking to extend the limited State of Emergency in Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine for a further month, despite Government's insistence that the one-month extension was being sought by the heads of the police and army.

The emergency was first imposed in Kingston and St Andrew on May 23 after gunmen said to be loyal to former Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke burnt two police stations in the capital, Kingston, and attacked members of the security forces, as they tried to prevent the serving of an arrest warrant on Coke.

Coke, who eluded several police dragnets, was captured along the Mandela Highway in St Catherine. He subsequently waived his right to an extradition hearing and was sent to the United States where he is now facing gun and drug-trafficking charges.

POST A COMMENT

You must first register and then login to be able to post a comment.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and before commenting you need to register, conveniently, by clicking the link above.

COMMENTS (20)

Norman Lee
7/30/2010

Bruce makes me feel like a prophet & teacher..... everything I have said in my comments he is now saying. Seems like he is learning, though slowly! But can a leopard change its spots? We shall see!

mark jones
7/30/2010

The PM is like a flag in the wind........He just gave the PNP some credibility!

Yard Vibz
7/30/2010

But yet incompetent Bruce is considered by many to be a man who possesses above average IQ & intellect that is envied by many. Within the last 48 hrs, labourite's 2 brightest stars (Bruce & Andrew), have proven to the nation that the perceived cohesiveness, which exists amongst cabinet members is imaginary at best. Since Andrew, in no uncertain term, had hailed the SOE for its assumed success, perhaps Bruce should have concealed his opinion & allow John Public to formulate its own opinion.

Wilfred Gray
7/30/2010

Some says,do not be `foooled` by 37% points.

David Biles
7/30/2010

No, no "Jock Enders", don't do it! Don't tell me you are falling victim to the PM's bag of tricks. If you are so incline to go that route, I request you send in or destroy your membership card immediately. I can see you were not "bred" well...how could you fall for such a thing....shame on you! I can no longer call you a friend and fellow comrade...LOL

countryman -
7/30/2010

Well said Mr. Prime Minister (whatever your motives)-now on to the implementation of the measures that can actually be permanent crime fighting tools, one that has borne fruits elsewhere-THREE STRIKE LAW!

Martial Law
7/30/2010

As I and many others have said, this man is not made up of any real values or beliefs. He has no substance, no moral fortitude, no moral fiber, no real set of value system. Bruce is a political animal par excellence.
After spending his ENTIRE adult life in politics, we still do not know what HE stands for. Maybe we need to retire him to the real world where he has to get a real job so that maybe he can find himself.
Two years of blame and posturing is all that we have from Bruce. Oh Lord!!

Stephen Fox
7/30/2010

Well we cannot give the JDF or the JCF too much power can we? After all they may clean up all the criminals including those in Gordon House. Most people with sense already knew that elements within the JLP did not want the state of emergency to continue. Still the Observer has not reported the names of those Parliamentarians that were absent.

Richie L
7/30/2010

Of course it could!
.
Keep emergency measures until more guns are taken in and the criminals are at bay. The country is already in a de facto state of emergency, with everyone having grills on their houses and altering their lifestyle because of criminality.
.
I would rather the state of emergency imposed by the state than the one imposed by the criminals.
.
I still say bruce golding should resign. I despise him and can not trust anything that comes out of his mouth.
.
Richie

Joe Robinson
7/30/2010

The PM is in the position to know what should be done. In other words when the crime monster raised its ugly head it will be time enough. But then jamaicans will have to die and pay with their lives for that to happen.If he calls it now then the PNP would say he defiance of Parliament. It is very sad when you know the right thing to do, yet you cant do it because of the kind of politics we practice.Regardless of how long it takes, the SOE must be called to effectivly contain the monster.

Clare Forrester
7/30/2010

Unless I missed something, my understanding of the Opposition's proposed amendment was not that it could not run for another 30 days, but rather in the first instance for 15 days and then the security forces make a report on the impact and if necessary the need for a further 15/30 days. Now I cant see whats wrong with that proposal if the Government truly felt that an extension was crucial as most people believe.

Loise McKenzie
7/30/2010

Touche Mr. Prime Minister...after you have lied in parliament to the Jamaican people you did not want to defy the parliament? Please stop taking us all for idiots. And as to the PNP which stood on the sidelines by abstaining and not take a position, they lost any little respect I still had for the party. You all need to go because the Jamaican people are tired of the nonsense that both parties perpetuate. Time for a fresh new breed of politicians!

Peter Lawrence
7/30/2010

PM must confess that he would not have DEFIED Parliament to renew the SOE via GG, becaus NO ONE voted against the SOE. In fact PNP supported it, with reservations, and even offerred extensions. He is arguing technically, like a LAWYER trying to "get off" a client. Similar in a way to Clinton saying he did not have sex(meaning intercourse) with Monica. The avalanche of blame on the PNP is now admitted to have been contrived , in effect, since the SOE could have held if the PM had CHOSEN TO .

Duncan Bertram
7/30/2010

But yet, many were complaining that the PNP was wrong to abstain. I say they were wrong to abstain , they should have voted against it.
Bruce is on his way out of west kgn. But this is the first time I have seen him side with sense. The people who were calling the PNP names would prefer to see all poor black Jamaicans lying in the streets being eaten by dogs and John crows.
It's them that starved the ghetto yutes 4 yrs causing them to turn to xtortion, racketeering & smuggling to survive.

renrick hall
7/30/2010

what an excuse.

Nicolas Henry
7/30/2010

PM Golding, Are there any plans for reforming the justice system & new prison construction? Jamaica can't continue to do more of the same & expect our results to be different. Some say. " we need more skills training centers". tell me where are the jobs for the trained workers? We will not attract investment until we tame our crime monster. We R like dog chasing it's tail. Bloggers pls don't be like a political TRIBALIST on this one. Post ideas that make sense. You don't know who's reading.

7/30/2010

Why is it no one in Jamaica wants to face up to the truth of the crime problem. It doesn't matter any more about the SOE how it ended we must now support the police and security forces to the best of our abilities, resources and capabilities in their crime fighting efforts. Politics should play no further part the police must now get on with the job without fear or favour. No community or individuals must now be deemed untouchable crime and criminals must now be vanquish from our beautiful land.

Jock Enders
7/30/2010

Well said Mr. Prime minister, i knew you had it in you to say and do the right thing.
I am not a labourite , i were born and bred into a PNP family , but day by day i am gaining so much adulation for you, keep it up and i might even vote for you next election.
Good job sir.

Jay Brown
7/30/2010

Huh, I see this as confirmation that the ruling JLP was really not in favour of extending the SOE.
Their reason is a clear as it can get. You cannot allow the police to have extraordinary powers when certain names have shown on on an extradition list .
The ruling party is running for cover again to protect its own and as such must remove certain powers from the local police.

Brooklyn Jamaican
7/30/2010

O girl, isn't that what the detractors been saying?

Which one of the following assets do you most favour to buy now and hold until the end of the year in Jamaica?
	Corporate bonds
	Stocks
	Gold
	Real Estate
	Government bonds

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

Gay rights activist claims lesbians are gang raped in Jamaica

State of Emergency could not continue indefinitely — PM