PSOJ disappointed with Gov’t’s late tabling of SOE regulations
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has expressed disappointment with the lateness of the tabling of the states of emergency regulations that are currently in place.
On December 06, Prime Minister Andrew Holness reimposed SOEs in several parishes.
READ: SOEs reimposed in several parishes
In a statement on Friday, the PSOJ said it remains supportive of SOEs, but the Government must be prepared and it must be executed promptly with all the legal requirements put in place.
“It is the Regulations that give the security forces the extraordinary powers needed to deal with the emergency. Without the Regulations being in place, the security forces are only able to exercise their normal policing powers,” the statement read.
It continued: “While we appreciate that there may be adjustments based on feedback received, there is already too much noise around the use of the SOEs for the GoJ [Government of Jamaica] to add more fuel to the fire.”
The PSOJ noted that this was not the first occurrence of the bungling of the tabling of Regulations.
“The GoJ can do better and must do better,” the statement continued.
On June 17, Deputy Prime Minister and Security Minister Dr Horace Chang instructed that an investigation be carried out into the incorrect tabling of the Regulations for the State of Public Emergency declared in the parish of St Catherine.
READ: Chang orders investigation into tabling of wrong SOE regulations