ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, has reassured residents of Mount Salem, St James, that the security forces will be in the community for the full 60 days as prescribed under the law governing the zones of special operations.

He noted that he was frequently asked the question on his tour throughout sections of Mount Salem on September 3, adding that “we will stay for as long as it takes to meet our objectives”.

Mount Salem and its environs were declared the first zone of special operations under the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act by the prime minister on September 1.

The law seeks to contain crime, while safeguarding the human rights of residents and promoting community development through social-intervention initiatives.

Holness said the security forces will “control the space” and that criminals will no longer have any room in which to operate.

“The security forces will be there. Now is the grand opportunity to once and for all have your community cleared of weapons that have for many decades destroyed many lives. The criminals will never again have the chance to control this space here in Mount Salem,” Holness told the residents.

Holness said that every area impacted by rampant crime and gang warfare will now come under the radar of the security forces, and are prime candidates to be included in the zones of special operations.

 “We intend to displace, disrupt and dismantle all criminal networks, organisations and gangs,” the prime minister said.

“There will not be a space for criminals anywhere in Jamaica. They need to know that their days are numbered, as we are about to take back our communities,” he added.