Jamaica: Holness administration fails to get support for extension of state of emergency

The Holness administration late Tuesday night failed to get support for its efforts to extend the state of emergency (SOE) in place since January 2017 after opposition legislators voted against the measure the administration said was necessary to curtail crime and violence across the island-nation.

“We don’t need a state of emergency to feel safe,” said Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips as the 20 members of the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) voted against the move.

The ruling Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) administration needed a two thirds majority to give effect to the extension of the SOE with all 33 government legislators voting in favor following a lengthy debate to extend the measure by 3 more months. When the vote was taken 10 legislators were not present.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, had during his contribution pleaded with the opposition to support the crime fighting initiative, noting a 20 percent reduction in murders nation wide, and in some areas like Montego Bay, 70 percent, among the positive results.

“We need more time,” Holness said, making reference to letters from the heads of the security forces requesting a 90-day extension.

He told parliament that there was a plan to exit the SOE as he responded to criticisms by opposition lawmaker, Mark Golding.

Holness said “we do have a plan to end the state of emergency but we cannot give up the strategic advantage to say when,” adding that since the SOE was imposed, murders have been reduced by 72 percent and shootings by 63 percent.

Holness said that the decision of the opposition is not balanced and does not adequately grapple with the problem. He described as “hypocritical” and “opportunistic” their position of making reference to the poor detention conditions as a basis for withdrawing support for the states of emergency.

“Your vote is going to put some person at risk of losing a relative or their own life,” Holness said.

But the Opposition Leader said while the opposition was prepared to support any reasonable measure, the state must provide all necessary security services, cordon, searches, seizures and arrests.

Phillips cited several concerns that have been raised about the states of emergency, including the constitutional rights of citizens.

The SOE had been imposed in several areas including St. James, Kingston Western, Kingston Central and St Andrew South as well as St Catherine North. -(CMC)