Chang confident SOEs will cauterise excessive killings
ST JAMES, Jamaica – Security Minister Dr Horace Chang has expressed confidence that the recent 14-day State of Public Emergency (SOE) declared for the parishes of Hanover, St James and Clarendon, will cauterise the excessive blood-letting in these police divisions.
“Increased killings in these areas are caused by the splintering of gangs that are resourced with money, especially through scamming; and access to guns. They buy guns across the region. They are killing each other and causing significant community distress,” Chang stated.
The security minister argued that while investments in modernising the police are important, there is still the need for strong measures to lock down the killers.
“Our police are well trained, we have improved intelligence and we are going to track them down across the region and get them [criminals] out of the community,” Chang said.
On Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced SOEs for Hanover, St James and Clarendon. Holnes emphasised the government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives of innocent citizens.
READ: SOEs declared for Hanover, St James and Clarendon
The measure enables the security forces, including the Jamaica Defence Force, to conduct targeted operations aimed at disrupting and dismantling criminal gangs and their networks, as well as preventing serious crimes.
-Horace Hines