KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness today sought to assure the Diaspora that Jamaica is not in chaos despite the on-going state of public emergency in St James.  

Holness, who was making his presentation in Parliament for a three-month extension on the emergency measure, said his comments were as a result of the Diaspora raising grave concerns about the move.

“The country is not falling apart as some of the reports have been saying overseas,” said Holness.

He explained that the Government has taken a “deliberate, strategic, instrumental, well-planned action” to ensure that law and order and rule of law is preserved.

“We want our Diaspora who have family here — people who send back the remittances, people who love Jamaica but don’t really come here often and get some news in social media — we want them to lift their voices in the foreign countries to say everything is okay here and that the government has taken a step that is in support of law and order,” Holness expressed.

At the same time, the prime minister, in advocating for the extension, acknowledged that there will be some disruption and fall out from the state of emergency but maintained that Jamaicans must take back control of the country.

“We must dismantle the networks of organised crime. It was not anticipated that all that is required will be accomplished in 14 days. It is reasonable to expect that even with extraordinary powers it will take some time to affect the situation in St James,” argued Holness.

For his part, Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips said that his People’s National Party is minded to support the extension.

“We accept that the peace could not be restored sufficiently in the 14 days permitted under the Constitution [and] that more time needs to be available to the security forces in order for confidence in the state of civil order to be spread widely among the people of St James,” said Phillips.

In announcing the declaration of the state of emergency at Jamaica House on January 18, Holness noted that crime and violence, in particular, have been escalating in the parish of St James, which had 335 homicides last year.

Under the state of emergency, the security forces have the power to search, curtail operating hours of business, access to places, and to detain persons without a warrant.

In addition, people using roads leading in and out of St James are subject to vehicle and personal search. In various areas of city and township there are joint static and mobile patrols. People may also be stopped at various checkpoints.

“But this does not mean that use of these extraordinary powers can be arbitrary or are beyond review. The security forces are expected and have been directed to treat citizens with respect and protect the dignity and safety of all,” Holness said when he announced the emergency measures earlier this month.

Moya Hinds