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Jamaican gov’t declares state of emergency for entire Clarendon parish

Staff Reporter

September 13, 2024

Jamaican gov’t declares state of emergency for entire Clarendon parish

A cyclist rides through a state of emergency checkpoint manned by Jamaica Defence Force soldiers in Clarendon. (Photo: Observer File)

CLARENDON, Jamaica— A state of emergency (SOE) has been declared for the entire parish of Clarendon. According to a press release on Friday, the security measure was sought due to a surge in organized gun violence amid an ongoing feud between rival gangs in the central Jamaica parish.

“The national security situation in Clarendon has reached a point where further decisive and urgent action is necessary. The initial August declaration was an operational success, however new intelligence assessments have shown that an additional response is required. We will not allow criminals to dictate the terms of life and security in any parish. With the full force of the law, the Government will protect the lives of the residents of Clarendon and bring security to their communities,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang also emphasized the importance of citizen involvement in the war on gangs.

“I urge every citizen to share any information and fully cooperate with the security forces. Together, we will defeat the gangs and make Clarendon and Jamaica a safer place,” he said.

The SOE will provide the security forces with an enabling environment to further address organised violence in Clarendon, ensuring swift and targeted operations to disrupt, degrade and dismantle their operations, the press release stated.