State of emergency declared for St James in response to ‘barbaric and a merciless act of terror’
Vanassa McKenzie / Our Today
The Government has declared a state of public emergency for the entire parish of St James in response to the worsening crime situation in the parish.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement on Wednesday, November 8, during a post-Cabinet press briefing.
“After careful consideration and review of the current crime situation in St James, His Excellency the Governor General has declared a state of public emergency in the entire parish of St James,” the prime minister said.
“I advised the Governor General to make the declaration on the recommendation of the chief of defence staff and the commissioner of police. Lady’s and gentlemen, it is the assessments of the security forces that the situation in St James merits this response and the use of emergency powers,” he added.
This declaration comes two days after a triple murder that claimed the lives of two primary-school students amid a flair-up of gang violence.
“We take this moment as we declare our response (to the killings) to grieve with the families,” Holness said.
On Monday, November 6, the two nine-year-old schoolboys were travelling in a taxi on their way home from school when the vehicle was shot up by gunmen along the Flower Hill main road in Salt Spring, St James.
The prime minister has since denounced the attack on the students as ‘barbaric and a merciless act of terror’.
Comments