Indications from Jamaica House yesterday were that Prime Minister Andrew Holness is about to identify the first zone of special operations under the new Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act.
The prime minister had talks with over 20 of the highest ranking officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) at his office yesterday, including Commissioner of Police George Quallo, in a meeting urgently called to discuss the issue as the island’s murder toll continues to mount.
The Observer was told that Holness might issue a statement this afternoon pertaining to the latest developments surrounding implementation of the Act.
He is also scheduled to leave Jamaica later today for Chile, where he is to hold discussions with President Michelle Bachelet on economic cooperation issues.
However, after chairing yesterday’s first day of a Cabinet retreat, which will continue when the prime minister returns, he called in the high command of the JCF to discuss the promulgation of the zones.
The Observer was told that in his address to the police officers, the prime minister cautioned them about how they carry out strategic searches in the declared zones, and urged them not to let down the JCF with inappropriate behaviour.
Sources described the discussions as “very robust”.
Passed in Parliament recently, the legislation seeks to contain crime while safeguarding the human rights of residents and promoting community development through social-intervention initiatives.
The prime minister can only declare an area a zone of special operations after the chief of defence staff and the commissioner of police, as members of the National Security Council, advise him to do so in writing.
Last weekend, Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips criticised the delay in starting the anti-crime measure, noting that it was already one month since the Bill was passed in Parliament.
Phillips claimed that the delay suggested that the legislation was only a “face card”.
Holness is to continue chairing the Cabinet retreat today, prior to leaving for Chile. He is expected to meet with President Bachelet tomorrow.
He should return to Jamaica by Thursday, but the retreat is not expected to resume before Monday, after which the Cabinet will resume its normal weekly meeting. By this time, he is expected to formally announce the appointment of Major General Antony Anderson as the new chairman of the board of the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA).
Information Minister Senator Ruel Reid confirmed last night that the Cabinet was able to cover “a lot of work” during its first retreat session yesterday, and should be able to complete the process on Monday.
Reid also confirmed that the approval of the new chairman and board of the FLA had been delayed. But it is not clear whether the process will be completed today prior to Holness’s departure.
It is not exactly clear either what he will discuss with Bachelet, but at last July’s 37th meeting of Caricom Heads of Government in Guyana, Holness welcomed the Chilean president’s “very favourable and positive posture towards Caricom”.
He said that this has led to benefits for the regional community, in areas such as disaster management, agriculture, education and youth exchange.
He also said then that Jamaica wished to emulate some of the Chilean president’s policies, including the economic growth policy, and urged her to extend the policy of overseas investments to Caricom.
