SOEs declared for Hanover, St James and Clarendon
A 14-day State of Public Emergency (SOE) has been declared for the parishes of Hanover, St James and Clarendon.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who emphasised the government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives of innocent citizens.
Meanwhile, Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, acting on the advice of the Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson and the Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, authorised the declaration of the SOEs for an initial period of 14 days, commencing at 12:01 am on Tuesday, May 16.
Anderson highlighted the situation in the affected Divisions, stating: “The Clarendon Police Division has witnessed a significant increase in murders and shooting incidents with a 6736 increase in murders and a 419 increase in shooting incidents as of May 14, compared to the same period last year. This necessitates the declaration of a State of Public Emergency.”
For the St James Division, he reported that “although experiencing a decline in murders by 27 per cent, the parish still had the highest number of murders across all police divisions, with a total of 69 recorded. The division also had the fourth highest number of shooting incidents, with 34 incidents during the same period last year.”
He added: “The Hanover Division witnessed the highest increase in murders, with a 75 per cent rise as of May 14, compared to the same period in 2022.”
Wemyss-Gorman underscored that “the JDF stands behind the recommendation for the declaration of a State of Public Emergency, covering the parishes of Hanover, St James, and Clarendon. We are committed to working closely with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to secure our nation.”
In the meantime, Dr Horace Chang, Minister of National Security, urged citizens to see the enhanced security measures as an opportunity to join the fight against criminality.
“We call upon every citizen, not just those living in the affected areas, to support these security measures. By standing united, we will win the war on guns, gunmen, and gangs,” Chang said.
Holness emphasised the importance of citizen involvement in curbing violence.
“We must come together as a nation to fight against criminality. I urge every citizen to share information and fully cooperate with the security forces. Together, we can make Jamaica a safer place,” Holness said.
The State of Public Emergency enables the security forces, including the JDF, to conduct targeted operations aimed at disrupting and dismantling criminal gangs and their networks, as well as preventing serious crimes.
In December last year, Holness reimposed SOEs in several parishes, citing increased criminal activities and a threat to property and in some instances, public disorder. St James and Clarendon were among those parishes.
