Mark Golding (File photo)
Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding, has told National Security Minister, Dr Horace Chang that he is treading on a “slippery slope” following comments made by Chang that the democratically-elected Government “cannot be vetoed in carrying out executive action in the face of crisis”.
Golding warned Chang that such talk threatened the very foundations of governance in the country.
The warning was triggered after Chang, during a wide-ranging address on crime in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, asserted that it is “inappropriate to block executive attempts in the interest of the people”.
The Government has relied heavily on states of emergency (SOEs) to combat the crime scourge which has seen on average 1,300 people murdered annually in Jamaica. However, the SOEs, which are widely popular with Jamaicans, especially those living in crime-plagued inner-city communities where the homicide rates are highest, were discontinued on the eve of
Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson. (File photo)
Police Commissioner, Major General Antony Anderson, has sought to defend the use of states of emergency (SOEs), suggesting that the real purpose of it is to reduce violence .
The emergency security measures that have been utilised by the government to curb criminality has been the subject of much criticism since it was first used in 2018, with many questioning its effectiveness.
While admitting that he has shied away from speaking on the use of SOEs due to it now becoming a political issue, Anderson said the security measure has brought an overall calm to crime-plagued communities.
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Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force on an operation. (Photo: File)
With a flare-up of criminal activities in sections of Kingston and St Andrew, resulting in incidents of shootings and murders, the police will be implementing a quick response/quick reaction team to address the bloodletting.
Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson said the team will be rolled out in the coming weeks and will first respond to gang activities in Kingston. They [members of the team] will be trained in the tactical use and are being trained in the tactical use of motorcycles and their weapons to respond quickly to gang activities and other threats to the lower part of Kingston, Anderson said.