THE Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is stepping up its efforts to have the Government address the lawlessness on the nation’s streets.

Almost 350 persons have been killed on the nation’s streets since the start of this year, a 17 per cent increase over last year and the PSOJ, with the endorsement of Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, other private sector stakeholders and members of civil society want action.

They met with Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang, and Major General Antony Anderson, commissioner of police on Thursday “for further discussions around public disorder on the roads”.

According to a release from the PSOJ, Chang shared the specific time-bound roadmap of work being undertaken by the Ministry of National Security, in collaboration with the other ministries, departments and agencies to restore order on Jamaica’s roadways.

Chang reportedly highlighted the continued work on Traffic Ticket Management System (TTMS), and called attention to the resourcing of the court management system with laptops, desktops and printers to support TTMS operations.

The security minister also indicated that the TTMS has been enhanced with an e-warrant feature and that timelines for roll-out are being finalised with the court.

It is anticipated that the issuance of e-warrants will commence with traffic courts in the parishes of Kingston, St James and Westmoreland, among others.

Anderson, meanwhile, underscored the merits of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Technology Branch and the efforts of the police in addressing public disorder on the roads.

He also provided the meeting with an insight into the continued efforts to revamp the police force through the use of technology as a multiplier of its capacity to enforce the laws to maintain public order and public safety across the island.

PSOJ President Keith Duncan welcomed the advances made so far and indicated that he will be meeting with Minister of Transport Robert Montague on November 12, 2019 to hold similar discussions.

The stakeholders recognised and agreed on the importance of creating a mechanism for monitoring the restoration of public order on the roadways.

They also declared that they look forward to seeing whether such a monitoring mechanism could be encapsulated in the wider,

ongoing deliberations towards bipartisan and multisectoral consensus around crime.