On Sunday, KINGSTON, Jamaica– Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the imposition of States of Emergency (SOEs) in seven police divisions across the island.
Speaking during an emergency press briefing, Holness said the SOEs were declared in the western parishes of St. James, Hanover, and Westmoreland and the Corporate Area, 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 percent to 57 percent.
“All have murder rates per 100,000 over the regional average, which is 15 percent. The murder rate per 100,000 in these divisions ranges 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 would be imposed, and other security measures are now in force.
Up to Friday, 1,240 murders have been committed so far this year.
and then 