Building a Better Jamaica

Jamaica Gleaner/ Power 106
Posted: Tuesday | July 27, 2010

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is this morning raising concern about what it calls the spike in murders since the State of Emergency expired last Thursday.

In the last two weeks before the measure expired, the murder rate was cut to an average of two per day.

However, since the expiration, the murder toll has climbed to about five per day, despite a new anti-crime plan announced by the police high command.

Last night, Andrew Holness, the chairman of the JLP’s public relations committee acknowledged that a State of Emergency could not be permanent.

However, he indicated that an extension would have helped in the crime fight.

Holness would not clearly say whether he believes the new anti crime plan is enough to deal with the crime problem.

He also says the Government would not rule out the re-imposition of a State of Emergency.

However, he says that would largely depend on a fresh recommendation by the security forces.