The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) says it supports the Government’s recent proclamation of a state of public emergency (SOE) for St. James.

The PSOJ in a statement on Thursday (November 9), hailed the decision as a “critical response to the escalating gang violence that has plagued the parish”, evidenced most tragically by the senseless killing of two young students and a man on November 6.

“The PSOJ vehemently condemns the spike in violent crimes within St. James, mainly when such acts result in civilian casualties. The abhorrent reprisal attacks that have cost innocent lives cannot be overlooked and demand an immediate and decisive response,” the entity continued.

On the other hand, while the PSOJ recognised the SOE as an immediate measure to curb the current tide of violence, it maintained that the response should be seen as a temporary solution, not a permanent fix.

To this end, the PSOJ insists on the need for a comprehensive and sustainable crime-fighting strategy.

Endorsing the recommendation by the Chief of Defence Staff Antonette Wemyss Gorman and Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson, the PSOJ asserted that although the SOE is not a long-term solution, it is necessary to reduce the surge of violent crime, including murders.

The Government has been implored to reengage with the Crime Monitoring Oversight Committee (CMOC), alongside the Opposition, private sector, and civil society, to finalise the revised memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the National Consensus on Crime.

“We stress the urgency of including a holistic approach encompassing education, social transformation, and reform of law enforcement, justice, and penal systems,” the PSOJ noted.

The revised MoU will, among other critical elements, detail the enhanced security measures (ESM), empowering law enforcement with the legal provisions to act decisively against known offenders and strengthen the criminal justice system’s response.

The PSOJ recommended a collaborative effort between the Government and the Opposition to expedite the drafting and legislative passage of the ESM.

“It is a matter of great urgency to address the nation’s critical condition,” the statement read.

Alluding to challenging times facing the country, the PSOJ called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to lead with inclusivity, expecting a cooperation from the Opposition in a non-political, unified strategy in combatting crime.

The organisation mused that Jamaicans deserve to live without fear and to raise their families in a secure environment, adding that a “commitment to a safer Jamaica must be shared across all sectors of society”.

“It is our collective responsibility to address the symptoms of crime, and we urge all citizens to assist in the fight against crime by reviving our core values and attitudes and denouncing behaviours and actions which do not serve us as a country and the quality of life we wish for all our citizens. The PSOJ has always encouraged persons to exercise their civic duty and responsibility by participating in initiatives for the deterrence, prevention and reporting of crimes, such as its longstanding Crime Stop programme, an organisation with a proven record of confidentiality and effectiveness,” the entity stated.