ST JAMES, Jamaica — Security Minister Robert Montague has suggested that the state of public emergency in St James be referred to as ‘enhanced security measures’.

Montague, in explaining his suggestion, argued on Sunday that Montego Bay is the tourism capital and a state of public emergency has a negative connotation.

“We want to make it very clear that, after this afternoon, we will no longer refer to the state of public emergency. We are in the tourism capital and tourism is the lifeblood. We would like to refer from henceforth to the enhance security measures,” stated Montague.

The minister was speaking with reporters following a tour of the parish, which included Flanker, Norwood and Salt Spring. He also visited the Freeport lock-up.

The minister said the aim of the new reference to the security measures is to protect the tourism industry.

“… Let us make it very clear. It is a state of emergency in St James. But after today, we will make the reference as enhanced security measures. We have to get the language right so that when we speak of it from henceforth, we speak in to the marketplace, so we can protect the tourism industry…” argued Montague.

The state of public emergency, implemented in the parish on January 18, was recently extended by three months.