Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a state of emergency in parts of the capital Kingston and in some central and western parishes to curb rising gang violence.
This announcement gives authorities far-reaching powers to search buildings and carry out arrests without warrants. The measures apply to areas that include popular tourist destinations such as Montego Bay.
“We have seen an increase in criminal activities in these areas and a threat to property and in some instances public disorder,” Holness said in a televised address.
“What we are seeing with gang activities in these areas is cause for grave concern,” he added.
The prime minister predicted that, due to the holiday season, there is usually an increase in murders.
The Commissioner of Police Antony Anderson stated that about 1,360 murders were registered in Jamaica between Jan 1 and Nov. 13, an increase of 6.8% over the same period in 2021. Gang violence was the reason for 71% of those murders, he said.
Rights groups have challenged detentions carried out during states of emergency.
Jamaica’s Supreme Court this year said authorities violated the rights of a man who said he was arbitrarily arrested and detained for months without trial during a state of emergency.
Jamaica as one of the region’s highest homicide rates is seeking to clamp down on gangs through laws that target organized crime and illegal guns.
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