Western stakeholders wary of impact of SOEs
WESTERN BUREAU:
While business leaders in western Jamaica have embraced the decision by Prime Minister Andrew Holness to declare states of emergency (SOEs) in the Hanover, Westmoreland, and St James police divisions, they are concerned as to whether the latest round of such measures will produce the desired results.
With the three western divisions accounting for 227 of the 1,250 homicides recorded across the island this year up to November 13, the business leaders believe that the crime situation could significantly hurt the pandemic-hit tourism sector, which is now seeing positive signs of recovery.
The three western police divisions, along with St Andrew South, Kingston West, Kingston Central, and Kingston East, were on Sunday placed under SOEs as a result of high homicide rates.
“Yes, the SOE is justified at this time, and everybody will be looking forward to a safer Christmas season, which is what the SOE will provide,” businessman Mark Kerr-Jarrett told The Gleaner.
“I don’t see any fatigue coming from it among workers. The SOE will affect criminals and there will be no inconvenience to law-abiding citizens,” he added.
Close loopholes
Kerr-Jarrett wants the Government to also pass the regulations for the Road Traffic Act (2018) to bring it into effect and revamp the Bail Act as part of the country’s crime-fighting efforts, adding that it is critical for all loopholes to be closed to prevent them from being exploited by criminals.
“People who are violent criminals should not be put out on bail,” Kerr-Jarrett insisted, noting that the business community will be pressing the Government for a review of the law.
Moses Chybar, president of the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce, told The Gleaner that although his members have embraced the SOE, they believe that other sustainable measures are needed to put an end to the rampant lawlessness.
Despite welcoming the security measure, he said that businesses were bracing for its effects on their operations.
“The SOE, coupled with the [COVID-19-related] curfew already in place, will undoubtedly have a negative impact on business activities. This is rather sad, especially now that we are about to enter the Christmas session,” he said.
Chybar wants the Government to explore the idea of having another amnesty for illegal guns and to ensure that the curfews are not treated with contempt.