Gang violence spike sparks state of emergency in Jamaica

A SPIRALLING CRIME RATE FUELLED BY GANG VIOLENCE IN JAMAICA forced Prime Minister Andrew Holness today to declared a state of public emergency in some areas of the capital, Kingston, and some central and western parishes of the Caribbean Island in a bid to fight lawlessness.

Popular tourist destinations, such as Montego Bay, are affected by today’s prime ministerial announcement.

Holness’ declaration increases the authorities’ power to search buildings and arrest suspects with warrants.

In a televised broadcast, the PM said: “We have seen an increase in criminal activities in these areas and a threat to property and in some instances public disorder.”

“What we are seeing with gang activities in these areas is cause for grave concern,” he noted.

A Reuters online report noted that PM Holness was predicting an increase in murders over the next several weeks with the onset of the Christmas festivities, a season when statistics indicate violent crime typically spikes.

The report said Police Commissioner, Antony Anderson, some 1,360 murders were registered in Jamaica between Jan 1 and Nov. 13, a 6.8 percent spike over last year’s figures.

Gang violence was blamed for 71 percent of the killings, Reuters said, quoting the Jamaican leader.

The state of emergency is unpopular among some organisations in the country, especially Rights groups are challenging detentions executed during states of emergency.

“Jamaica’s Supreme Court this year said authorities violated the rights of a man who said he was arbitrarily arrested and detained for months without trial during a state of emergency,” Reuters said in their report.It said “Jamaica, which has one of the region’s highest homicide rates, is seeking to crack down on gangs through laws that target organized crime and illegal guns.”