JAMAICA | State of Emergency More Political Optics Rather Than Public Safety says Bunting

KINGSTON, Jamaica. November 23, 2023: Shadow Minister of National Security, Peter Bunting, has expressed deep concern over this morning's declaration of States of Emergency (SOEs) in four parishes: Hanover, St. James, Clarendon, and St. Catherine.

In a statement issued today, Bunting  highlighted the timing of this decision, which he said marked the second consecutive year of SOE declarations just before the governing JLP's Annual Party Conference.

Bunting asserts that, "The recurring pattern of SOE declarations ahead of the JLP's Annual Party Conference is raising questions about the government's priorities. It appears more performative than effective, indicating a concerning trend in the misuse of security measures for political optics rather than genuine public safety."

Drawing attention to the broader impact of the JLP administration's approach, Bunting is emphasizing the need for a critical evaluation. 

"Despite the serial and routine use of SOEs over the last eight years of the Andrew Holness led Administration, we are observing a distressing reality - on average, the annual number of murders has increased by 25% (2000+ more deaths) when compared with the prior Portia Simpson Miller administration. 

This demands a serious re-evaluation of the government's crime-fighting strategies," Bunting said.

The National Security Shadow Minister concluded by urging a comprehensive and collaborative effort to address the root causes of crime and violence. "It is time to move beyond mere declarations and focus on sustainable solutions that truly prioritize the safety and well-being of all Jamaicans," Bunting Lamented.

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