KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has defended his administration’s continued use of States of Emergency as a crime-fighting tool. This comes in the wake of criticism from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), ensuring the public is well-informed about the government’s stance.
Last week, the IACHR called on the Holness administration to ensure that international human rights standards implement measures to fight and prevent crime.
The comment was made in the aftermath of the imposition of a State of Emergency in the southern parish of Clarendon last month in response to a gun attack during which eight people were killed and nine others wounded.
Speaking at the retirement function for a senior member of the police force, Holness reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to protect the rights of all citizens. He emphasized that this commitment has been reinforced to members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, instilling a sense of reassurance in the public.
‘In the transformation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, every officer will tell you that in their training, respect for citizen’s rights, respect for human rights, including in our operations …I urge the JCF to continue on this path to show the world that we don’t need to be told to respect human rights, it is something that is ingrained in us. But you know what is missing from the conversation? It is the respect for the rights of the victims. No one speaks about the rights of the victims. Those families who have lost their loved ones. No international agency is coming to say protect the rights of the citizen….. none.”
He said that when crime gets above the capacity in developed countries, those governments use extraordinary powers without external criticism.
“We have a situation here that has been over and above our investigative capacity for many years. Over and above the ability to put boots on the ground in the challenged communities…..what has the government done in the last eight years? We have been building capacity, so we don’t rely on SOEs. In the previous three years, the number of gangs brought to the courts and the number of gangs that have been dismantled has been more than in the last 30 years.
He concluded by urging Jamaicans to understand that the government is acting in their best interest. He called for the public’s support and understanding, making them feel involved in the fight against crime.
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