KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of National Security Robert Montague today challenged criminals to keep their lawyers on speed dial as the security forces will be pursuing them relentlessly and without fear.

“Oonu goin run weh because we goin to pursue oonu. This minister no fraid a oonu, my uncle is a obeah man,” he warned, evoking an outburst of laughter among attendees at an interactive session with heads of security held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

Montague said a number of criminals go about with New Testament Bibles in their back pockets and guard rings claiming that “when dem turn the ring (Senior Superintendent of Police) Mr [Steve] McGregor, dem disappear an police cyaan see dem”.

However, he noted that a new 304-bed facility is being constructed at the Tamarind Farm Adult Correctional Centre, and said “Commissioner [of Corrections Ina] Hunter a fix up a nice place fi dem… and we need people to occupy them”. 

The security minister yesterday told the Jamaica Observer that his Administration is “moving to rationalise and improve the prison conditions in the country” while reducing the number of incarcerated individuals.