Press Release From The Office of the Prime Minister - 20241204:
His Excellency, the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General of Jamaica, in consultation with the security forces, has declared a State of Public Emergency for the geographical area comprising the St. Andrew South Police Division and sections of the St. Andrew Central Police Division.
This declaration follows a significant increase in violent criminal activities within these areas, particularly in communities such as Waltham Park Road, Maxfield Avenue, and Waterhouse. These locations have been identified as hotspots for gang-related warfare which poses public safety risks to residents as well as commuters and bystanders given their use as public thoroughfares.
The assessment indicates that the current level of violence and criminal activity in these communities is extensive and exceeds the capacity of standard policing measures to effectively stabilize the affected communities and restore public order.
Under a State of Public Emergency, enhanced security measures will allow our security forces to disrupt criminal networks, apprehend perpetrators, and create an environment conducive to sustainable peace. These measures will continue to be implemented with strict adherence to constitutional safeguards and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Furthermore, the Government of Jamaica will also continue to address root causes of violence in these communities by actively engaging stakeholders to ensure that accompanying social intervention programmes will provide long-term solutions to the social and economic challenges faced by residents.
The boundaries of the State of Public Emergency are defined as follows:
East: Starting at the foot of Red Hills at the intersection of Perkins Boulevard, Molynes Road and Red Hills Road, extending in a south-easterly direction along Molynes Road to its intersection with Hagley Park Road and Eastwood Park Road. Continuing in a westerly direction along Hagley Park Road to the intersection with Omara Road, and then onto Chisholm Avenue to the point of intersection with Maxfield Avenue.
South: Extending in a south-westerly direction from the intersection of Chisholm Avenue and Maxfield Avenue, along Maxfield Avenue onto East Avenue to the coastline in the vicinity of Petrojam and extending along the said coastline in the vicinity of the Kingston Container Terminal to the Portmore Causeway Bridge.
West: Continuing in a north-westerly direction from the Portmore Causeway Bridge along the Fresh River and the shared parish border of St Andrew and St Catherine to the west of Riverton, and extending to the vicinity of the western most end of Belvedere Road to Ferry secondary road.
North: Extending in an easterly direction along Belvedere Road to Ferry Road to the foot of Red Hills at the intersection of Perkins Boulevard, Molynes Road and Red Hills Road, the start point.
The Government and the security forces will continue to take all necessary actions to protect the safety of residents and restore normalcy.
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It is so sad people can't move around as they want to because of these criminal I hope the police don't have any mercy when it come to criminal because after few days they get lawyers and back on the street again get rid of them and done
ReplyDeleteNo sir! Policing is a tough enough job already. Let's not add judge, jury and executioner to their job descriptions.
ReplyDeleteThis is so unwarranted. Where is te war? A state of emergency must be a last resort in certain pre-established situations. This situation satisfies none of such conditions. This says the country cannot manage. Not a good look.
ReplyDelete"A government can declare such a state before, during, or after a natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemic or epidemic or other biosecurity risk."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_emergency