In St Andrew South, for instance, the latest report provided by the JCF shows a significant increase in murder between 1st January 2018 and 21st April 2018 over the same period of 2017. Overall, the murder rate in the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew is 44% over the corresponding period in 2017.

Over the past week, several murders have been reported in Denham Town, St. James and North St Catherine, all areas under special operations.

The Shadow Minister said the Zones of Special Operations (ZoSO) in Mount Salem and Denham Town and the states of emergency (SoE) declared in St James and in a section of St Catherine have failed to arrest the skyrocketing murder rate and demonstrate beyond any doubt, that the Holness led-administration remains clueless and incapable of addressing the nation's crime issue.

Mr. Jackson says even those living in areas under ZoSo and the SoE are not spared as the crime wave continues unabated.

“We continue to state that ZoSO and SoEare temporary measures and cannot contain the widespread problem that this nation is facing; yet this government continues with its public relations gimmicks, pretending that they are taking action while more communities are becoming killing fields.”

“Notwithstanding the SoE and ZoSo, the levels of murder and shootings continue to increase at alarming levels throughout the rest of the country,” Mr. Jackson said.

Mr. Jackson said the Denham Town ZoSo is failing to reduce the high levels of fear that has gripped the community.

The shadow minister said the reduction of the number of security personnel assigned to the Denham Town Zone of Special Operation needs to be reviewed urgently.

“What decision process the ZOSO team and JCF High Command went through to reduce presence in the zone?Was there a risk assessment regarding the reduction in police/military presence?”

Mr. Jackson said the government must tell the nation what the plans are to address crime and allay the fear gripping several communities islandwide.

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