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1. The PNP has always been a staunch advocate and remains supportive of any lawful and Constitutional means in the fight against crime. Consistent with this, however, must be the rights of the people.
2. Consistent with our duty of protecting the rights of the people, the PNP not only proposed an extension of 15 days but insisted that during this period the government should consult with the Opposition to provide us with the information so that we could take a responsible decision
3. The Opposition believes a State of Emergency cannot substitute for an effective crime plan, which the Government has failed to present. Additionally a State of Emergency cannot be a permanent crime-fighting tool.
4. The police currently have a number of tools which can be deployed without a SOE eg: cordon and search and curfews which have proven effective in the current fight against crime. These tools were used, for example in extensive operations in Manchester on the weekend, which was not covered by the State of Emergency. As a part of its longer term crime plan the government should ensure that the security forces have the necessary resources to fight crime.
5. Part IIA of the Constabulary Force Act, Special Powers for Preventing or Detecting Crime, sub-section 5 reads: “No powers of search shall be exercised under subsection (4) without a warrant in relation to a dwelling house except for the purpose of apprehending any person upon reasonable suspicion that he is in the course of committing or has committed, or is about to commit an offence.” This in itself can be used as an effective tool to satisfy the objectives that the Government has outlined.
6. The Opposition is insisting that mechanisms be put in place to ensure that individuals, especially those in inner city communities are not randomly detained and therefore treated as expendable. In this regard we insist that the Minister of National Security uses his powers to prevent any damage of the credibility of the process of crime fighting especially during a state of emergency.
7. The decision made by the PNP is not based on notions fuelled by political partisanship but on the protection of the rights and freedoms of the Jamaican people.
8. As Jamaicans For Justice suggests, The government has provided neither evidential or anecdotal support for their contention. They can detain persons outside of the State of Emergency. The Government was prepared to extend the State of Emergency without question. It is difficult to understand their unwillingness to compromise with the Opposition.
9. The Opposition wants to solve the crime problem in a manner that is in the best interest of all Jamaican people. The Opposition has therefore acted based on a position of principle.
10. The Opposition wishes to express its unequivocal support for the security forces in this very difficult time and to assure them that nothing that we do is intended to hamper their lawful operations.
2. Consistent with our duty of protecting the rights of the people, the PNP not only proposed an extension of 15 days but insisted that during this period the government should consult with the Opposition to provide us with the information so that we could take a responsible decision
3. The Opposition believes a State of Emergency cannot substitute for an effective crime plan, which the Government has failed to present. Additionally a State of Emergency cannot be a permanent crime-fighting tool.
4. The police currently have a number of tools which can be deployed without a SOE eg: cordon and search and curfews which have proven effective in the current fight against crime. These tools were used, for example in extensive operations in Manchester on the weekend, which was not covered by the State of Emergency. As a part of its longer term crime plan the government should ensure that the security forces have the necessary resources to fight crime.
5. Part IIA of the Constabulary Force Act, Special Powers for Preventing or Detecting Crime, sub-section 5 reads: “No powers of search shall be exercised under subsection (4) without a warrant in relation to a dwelling house except for the purpose of apprehending any person upon reasonable suspicion that he is in the course of committing or has committed, or is about to commit an offence.” This in itself can be used as an effective tool to satisfy the objectives that the Government has outlined.
6. The Opposition is insisting that mechanisms be put in place to ensure that individuals, especially those in inner city communities are not randomly detained and therefore treated as expendable. In this regard we insist that the Minister of National Security uses his powers to prevent any damage of the credibility of the process of crime fighting especially during a state of emergency.
7. The decision made by the PNP is not based on notions fuelled by political partisanship but on the protection of the rights and freedoms of the Jamaican people.
8. As Jamaicans For Justice suggests, The government has provided neither evidential or anecdotal support for their contention. They can detain persons outside of the State of Emergency. The Government was prepared to extend the State of Emergency without question. It is difficult to understand their unwillingness to compromise with the Opposition.
9. The Opposition wants to solve the crime problem in a manner that is in the best interest of all Jamaican people. The Opposition has therefore acted based on a position of principle.
10. The Opposition wishes to express its unequivocal support for the security forces in this very difficult time and to assure them that nothing that we do is intended to hamper their lawful operations.
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