KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government hopes to put two communities under the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) this year and restructure the operation of one existing ZOSO.

This Prime Minister Andrew Holness revealed during his Budget Debate presentation in Parliament today.

“This means two less communities at war and a lowering of the murder rate,” Holness said.

He noted that the Jamaica Social Investment Fund is charged with managing the social transformation of these communities and plans are already in place.

Four communities are currently under ZOSOs.

“The most pressing matter of concern for most Jamaicans regarding our sense of security is the murder rate and its seemingly intractable nature. We can report that we ended 2020 with fewer murders than the previous year,” he said.

The prime minister said since 2018 the murder curve has been essentially flattened.

“There is no doubt that our use of states of public emergency have worked to reduce murders and shootings wherever they have been deployed. I remain proud of the fact that this administration was able to develop and implement a framework to enable our security forces to use extraordinary powers and enhanced measures without doing violence to any citizen or resulting in the death of any citizen. Of greater importance is that the public views the SOEs as effective in improving their safety and security,” Holness said.