Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer THE OPPOSITION Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) say they will not support a limited state of emergency for crime-ridden communities.
Derrick Smith, JLP Spokesperson on National Security, said yesterday that imposing a limited state of emergency would not significantly reduce crime, especially murders. Forty seven murders were committed in the island last week.
"I am not aware of what a limited state of emergency would allow them (security forces) to do in the trouble spots that they can't do now," Smith argued. On the other hand, he said he did not have a problem with the army assisting the police force, except that it (army) does not have an extended presence in troubled communities.
CALLS FROM T&T
On Monday, it was reported that calls have been mounting in Trinidad and Tobago for a limited state of emergency to help stabilise the spiralling crime rate there.
But Dr. Carolyn Gomes, executive director of JFJ, told The Gleaner yesterday that her organisation has consistently opposed a state of emergency, whether limited or otherwise.
"We feel that in practice the troubled communities have been under a 'limited state of emergency' virtually since the 1970s," she explained. "Residents in these communities are subject to arbitrary arrests, and searches of their person, vehicles and houses, which are in breach of the Constitution and the law of the land."
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips said yesterday that Cabinet was not "actively considering" the imposing of a limited state of emergency in specific communities at this time.
"We will keep all our options open in relations to the upsurge of violent crime," he said.
