THE House of Representatives will soon be extending the lives of the zones of special operations (ZOSOs) beyond the 60-day periods currently allowed under the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act.

Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang says that the Cabinet is currently looking at increasing the extensions to six months and is expected to make a decision very soon.

Chang, who piloted Tuesday’s extension of the current seven ZOSOs to a further stay, told the House of Representatives that the Government was seeking another 60-day extension for all seven, as is currently required under the Act.

However, he said that he hopes to soon be able to bring the required amendments to the House to extend the reporting period to six months as the ZOSOs do have a particular process which takes time and a mandatory 60 days is not the best way.

“We have made the required recommendations, and we expect them soon,” he told the House.

The current seven ZOSOs are in Mt Salem and Norwood (St James); August Town, Denham Town, Greenwich Town, and Parade Gardens (Kingston and St Andrew); and Savanna-la-Mar (Westmoreland), and their existence will expire on June 21, 2022 under the Act.

“I will, as a matter of interest, indicate that since the last 10 days there has been no criminal activity in any of the zones, including Denham Town. No shootings,” he told the House.

He pointed out that, on the advice of the National Security Council and in accordance with the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act as well as section 5 of the Act, which advises that the prime minister in council, after consultation with the (security) joint command, may, by order, subject to an affirmative resolution of the House of Representatives, extend the zones by a further 60 days.

He said that with respect to the operational and community-building strategy, Mount Salem and Denham Town will continue in the build phase, while Greenwich Town, August Town, Norwood, Parade Gardens, and Savanna-la-Mar will continue at the hold stage, moving quickly to the build stage.

The ZOSOs transition into different phases of the clear-hold-build strategy, supported by the security forces and government agencies.

Chang said that the outlook for the communities is positive, and there is not only major reductions in crime, but over the last 10 days there has not been “a single shooting incident in any of them”. He said that as of June 12, no murders have been reported in any of the zones.

He noted that crime prevention programmes are being implemented in vulnerable communities across the island with the use of enhanced security measures, such as the ZOSOs, which ensures that the relevant security resources are concentrated across these communities to reduce criminal violence and improve the living conditions of the residents.

“Enhanced security measures saves lives, [and] the zones are an important part of that arsenal of measures that we must continue to utilise,” Chang added.