STATE OF PUBLIC EMERGENCY FOR ST CATHERINE, KINGSTON AND ST ANDREW UNTIL JULY 22

June 23, 2010

STATE OF PUBLIC EMERGENCY FOR ST CATHERINE, KINGSTON AND ST ANDREW UNTIL JULY 22

Parliament yesterday (June 22) unanimously supported Prime Minister Bruce Golding's resolution for the State of Public Emergency in Kingston and St Andrew to be extended for another month. He also advised Parliament that a month-long State of Public Emergency for St Catherine starts on June 23.

Insert clip: The pressure

"The pressure on the criminal forces in the country, the efforts to recover illegal firearms, that is not something that we can afford to slacken in any way; that pressure must be kept up. One month is not sufficient to achieve the results that are required"

Prime Minister Bruce Golding in Parliament on June 22. Mr Golding noted that these measures were necessary to keep pressure on organized crime and that the situation will be under constant review.

Insert clip: Situation in St Catherine

"It important to appreciate that organised crime and criminal gangs are not confined to Western Kingston, they are not confined to the Corporate Area. There are other communities, especially in major urban centres, where criminal gangs have become embedded and virtually taken control of communities...The situation in St Catherine has been one of particular concern. For the period January to May, St Catherine has experienced 170 murders compared to 112 for the corresponding period last year."

Mr. Golding expressed his regret that one soldier and 73 civilians died during the security initiative in West Kingston and that several members of the security forces and civilians were injured.

He however noted that the operations had resulted in the seizure of 87 illegal guns, 14 hand grenades and about 14,000 rounds of assorted ammunition in the Corporate Area. He said a police post was now in Tivoli Gardens and that it will allow for normal community policing.

The Prime Minister repeated that the security operations must be carried out with respect for human rights and expressed appreciation to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and also the governments of Canada, the UK and the USA for their assistance to the Public Defender in carrying out his work in West Kingston.