KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has informed that the taskforce aimed at addressing the safety concerns of returning residents will work closely with various crime intervention and prevention taskforces in the Diaspora.

The ministry on Wednesday announced that it would be establishing the taskforce to address the safety and security concerns of returning residents seeking to live, work, and conduct business in Jamaica.

The ministry, in a release yesterday, responded to concerns raised that returning residents were being given “special treatment” in respect to the impact of crime.

“Crime reduction and the safety and security of all citizens was acknowledged by persons who attended the meeting on Tuesday, July 10 as the number one priority of the Government of Jamaica,” said State minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pearnel Charles Junior.

He pointed out that safety and security has been a great concern of Jamaicans in the Diaspora, and the setting up of the crime intervention and prevention taskforces in the three major Diaspora locales, is aimed at examining the root causes of this reality and developing strategies and best practices.

“The taskforce will therefore, work closely with the crime intervention and prevention taskforces,” said the ministry.

It added that the returning residents taskforce will have specific deliverables to address safety and security concerns of returning residents as well as measures to be undertaken by the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

These measures are said to include the publication of a handbook providing essential safety and security advice, the undertaking of background checks on request of potential employees of returning residents and the designation of community safety officers who will be sensitised on the concerns and will manage the security of returning residents.