Jamaica Crime News, St James: Residents and business operators residing in St James say they are very pleased with the Government’s decision to extend the State of Public Emergency.
Our news team was informed by a number of the residents that since the start of the State of Public Emergency and the Zone of Special Operation, crime has reduced drastically in their community.
The State of Public Emergency in St James has now been extended until November 2nd, and the Zone of Special Operation extended until the next two months.
The members of the House of Representative on Tuesday, July 17, voted for an extension to the State of Emergency in St James and the Zones of Special Operations in Mount Salem and Denham Town in Kingston West.
Zones of Special Operations in Mt. Salem, St James and Denham Town, Kingston Extended
All 52 members of Parliament who were present on the day agreed on the extension, while Prime Minister Andrew Holness who made the resolution, authorized the extension.
Earlier this year the head of the Jamaica Defence Force Operations Unit, Colonel Daniel Pryce, appealed to residents of St James to facilitate the security forces to their best during the ongoing State of Emergency.
Colonel Pryce who spoke at a press briefing held at the Army Barracks in Montego Bay urged residents that, the security forces aims are flush out and clamp down on Scammers, gang members, wanted men, persons of interest, gunmen and to seize illegal firearms.
Policeman Assigned to Zone of Special Operation in St James Caught with Stolen Motor Vehicle
He also mentioned that the State of Emergency is expected to last for some time, which will enable the security forces to establish their goal of bringing these criminals to justice and restoring the rules of law and confidence to the parish and its communities.
The Colonel pointed out that over the past years, crime has gone to record level in St James and at the end of 2017, the parish recorded a total 335 murders. During the first twenty days of 2018, a total of 7 murders were recorded and for that, an intense State of Emergency was imposed.
Up to date, a total of 55 murders have been recorded in St James, with 43 of those murders being recorded since the start of the State of Public Emergency.
At this time in 2017, over 130 murders were already recorded in the parish of St James.