Kingston – Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Sunday announced the imposition of States of Emergency (SOEs) in seven police divisions.
Speaking during an emergency press briefing, Holness said the SOEs were declared in the western parishes of St James, Hanover and Westmoreland and in the Corporate Area; and in the police divisions of St Andrew South, Kingston West, Kingston Central and Kingston East.
According to the prime minister, all of these divisions have seen increases in crime ranging from 16 per cent to 57 per cent.
“All have murder rates per 100 000 in excess of the regional average which is 15 per cent. In fact, the murder rate per 100 000 in these divisions range from a low of approximately 47 per 100 000 to 190 per 100 000.”
“We have decided to recommend the declaration of SOEs having regard to the increase in murders compared year on year both in the communities in which we have declared them and nationally and these increases we consider to be of an extensive scale such that they threaten public safety.”
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson said the new states of emergency will be imposed in addition to other security measures now in force.
Up to Friday, 1 240 killings were committed so far this year. (CMC)
