By Sue-Ann Wayow
PUBLIC confidence in the State of Emergency (SoE) as an effective crime-fighting tool is decreasing in Jamaica.
It has decreased by 35%, according to a poll.
In an article in the Jamaican Gleaner posted on Wednesday, a RJRGLEANER Group-commissioned Don Anderson poll conducted last month showed that 53% of Jamaicans saw the crackdowns as effective, 39% disagreed while eight per cent were unsure.
Looking back at March, 2019 prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, 81% of Jamaicans, a 28% higher than July’s survey, said SOEs were an effective crime-fighting tool, 13% disagreed, and another five per cent were unsure. One per cent of respondents were unaware.
Executive director of Violence Prevention Alliance Dr Deanna Ashley, told The Gleaner, “Their effectiveness and impact is time-bound and has not been shown to have an effect in reducing crime over time. Of concern is the impact of SoEs on the vulnerable in the population, especially the impact on children.”
The measure can only remain in force, initially, for 14 days and must get the support of both Houses of Parliament according to Jamaican law.
Like in Trinidad, Jamaica’s Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is against the continued use of the SOEs as a crime-fighting tool.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Government had implemented a SoE during the pandemic, not necessarily as a means of reducing crime but as a public health measure to keep people indoors and out of crowded spaces. The SoE lasted six months, the full length of its legal framework that did not require Opposition support.
However, with the increase in crime and violence in the country, mediation and intervention specialist Milton Tomlinson said Jamaicans will welcome any measures by the Government.
“People just want to feel a sense of security going about their daily business. If the Government comes tomorrow morning and says that they are going to bring back hanging, nobody will remember that we have some corrupt police who will just pin something on a man, imprison him, and then get him hanged. Everybody gonna say, ‘Yes, man, mi tired a di criminal dem! Hang dem!'” he said.
Tomilson said that crime and violence must now be treated with the same intense approaches as how the Covid-19 pandemic was dealt with adding that within the next 10 to 15 years, Jamaica could experience unprecedented violence.
“There is nothing to deter these criminals anymore. They are not afraid of anything anymore, because they now know how to live. They have learnt how to live and operate in these states of emergency,” Tomlinson told The Gleaner.
Last month, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley also admitted the increase in criminal activity declared crime as a public health emergency and that the State will be rolling out an action plan.
