KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government’s priority is to deal with violence, crime and public order as a national security risk.

“Anything that weakens the ability of the State to exercise its sovereignty and give a security guarantee to its citizens is a national security threat. When we elevate it to this level, it is quite different from being a citizen-to-citizen threat,” he said.

The Prime Minister was addressing a recent Citizen Security Business Group meeting at Jamaica House.

The Group comprises the Financial Secretary – all Permanent Secretaries – the heads of all relevant agencies, such as the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, HEART/NSTA Trust, and Planning Institute of Jamaica; the Chief of Defence Staff; the Police Commissioner, and Director General of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency.

The Group is supported by the Cabinet Office through the Cabinet Secretary and the Office of the National Security Advisor.

Citing the Zones of Special Operations, a security measure that has been used for some five years, Prime Minister Holness said the communities in which they have been declared are no longer considered high-violence-producing areas.

“Do the citizens feel more secure? If we were to say we’re going to take down the Zone of Special Operations, everyone complains…They want it there. But that, in itself, says that we haven’t been successful in giving the sense of security, because there’s still reliance on the security forces.

“What it does say is that the engagement of these communities would have to be long-term, and it is not the presence of the security forces that is going to guarantee the long-term security of the community. There would have to be major transformations in the community and this is where this group comes in,” he explained.

Regarding the State of Public Emergency, Holness said the powers have been used judiciously and effectively, but the Government is not relying on these powers to deal with the upsurge in crime.

“We have invested, as a third strategy and in a significant way, in building the capacity of the Police Force and the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force), to increase their intelligence, their investigative and case-building capabilities; to increase their response capabilities, in terms of their logistics, their communications and their transportation,” he detailed.

The Prime Minister noted that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been significantly transformed over the last five years, primarily in its recruitment, where a net intake is being registered.

He further shared that there has been significant investment in the JCF’s leadership.

“When you listen to our police officers give public statements, they demonstrate a full grasp of their areas of responsibility and are able to communicate their actions effectively to the public, and this is very important because it builds significant confidence in the public,” he said.

Prime Minister Holness said the transformation of the JCF will continue to ensure that the Force reaches a point where its capacity is over and above the problem.

He maintained that as the pool of police investigators increases, crime needs to be reduced simultaneously.

Holness underscored that the biggest preventative strategy is determining how to prevent youngsters from joining gangs or wanting to use weapons to inflict violence.

The Ministry of Education and Youth and the Ministry of National Security, he said, are key partners in violence prevention among youth.

Prime Minister Holness said he hopes to receive a report from the National Violence Prevention Commission before the year ends.

This, he indicated, is in order to make a change at the level of the Executive to reorganise the Government, so that all its critical entities are aligned with proper ministerial and policy direction to tackle violence.

“Dealing with violence is the ultimate means of preventing the commission of crime and restoring public order,” Prime Minister Holness stated.

– JIS