Opinions on State of Public Emergency in St James, Jamaica

1. The matter of the failure of the governmenttogetthe requiredsupporttoextendthe State of Public
EmergencyforSt Jameshas once againbeen inthe news.Nodoubtoccasionedbythe upsurge of
crime inSt James,and especiallyinthe spike inmurders bygunmensince the cessationof the SOE.
The charges as to whois to be blamedforthe upsurge are beinglevieddayinandday out especially
insocial media.Whois to be blamed?The partypolitical lineshave beendrawnagainwiththe JLP
supportersblamingthe PNPandvice versa.The JLP’sclaimisthat the failure of the PNPtosupport
the extensionof the SOEisthe cause and the PNPin turn blamesthe JLPforthe lackof a crime plan.
Justwho isresponsibleortobe blamed? Ithinkitis importantintryingto apportionblame thatwe
firstdetermine firstof all whatisit that occasionedthe declarationof the SOE?If we accept that
actionhad beentakenbycriminal elementsinStJamesthatthreatenedothersinsuchanature and
so extensive ascale andwasendangeringpublicsafetythatthere wasa need.
No doubtthe Prime Ministerasheadof the governmentchargedwiththe responsibilityof
maintaininglawandorderwouldhave hadmeetingswiththe headsof the securityforces(SFs),the
Chief of Defence Staff of the JDFandthe Commissionerof Policeandwouldhave invitedthemto
provide himwithrecommendationsastothe action to be takento restore normalityinrespectto
lawand orderin St James.
Both these headsof the SFs wouldhave hadavailable tothemintelligence andotherreportsonthe
scope and situationprevailinginStJames.Bothofficerswouldhave been able withthe assistance of
theirstaffstocarry outwhat isreferredtoin the militaryasan Estimate oran Appreciation.From
that exercise (Appreciation/Estimate)theywouldhave determinedtheirAimorMission.Theywould
have consideredseveral factorsthatcouldor mighthave affectedthe successful attainmentof their
mission.Theycertainlywouldhave consideredthe LAWasit relatestothe State of Public
Emergency.Inotherwords,whatwere the limitationsimposedbythe law/SOEregulationsin
respectof the operationandthe extenttowhich“fundamental rightsandfreedomsguaranteed
(underthe Constitution) would be curtailedorsuspended.”Inaddition,andveryimportant,thatthe
proclamationbythe GovernorGeneral wouldonlyremaininplace “…foramonth or forsuch longer
period,notexceedingtwelvemonths,asparliamentdeterminedbyaresolutionsupportedbythe
votesof a majorityof all the membersof parliamentandthatmaybe extendedfromtime totime by
a similarresolutionof parliamentfora furtherperiod…”
The SF heads wouldhave of necessitybe consciousof thatTIME limitation.There wasnogivenor
guarantee thatany extensionwouldbe granted.Failure torecognisethatfactor make contingency
planswouldbe highlyirresponsible.
My guessisthe headsof the SFs wouldhave selectedastheirMissionbasedonthe situationas“To
Restore Law& Orderto the parishof St Jameswithin30 days”withthe intentof handingbackto the
Civil Power(JCF) the responsibilityof maintaininglaw andorder.Itisimportantthat itbe understood
that the missionfora SOE isto RESTORE and not maintainlaw andorderwhichisin effectthe
primaryfunctionof the police/JCF.
Didthe headsof the SFs fail toconsider the TIME limitationtotheirselectedmission?If theyhad
consideredit,whatwastheirplanhadthe extension(whichinfacthappened)wasnot granted?It
wouldbe a mistake toblame anyone butthe headsof our SFs forthe upsurge incriminal activityin
St Jamesas theyeitherwouldhave failed tohave aplaninthis eventualityorthe planwasineffecta
failure.

2. Didthe Prime Ministerreceive regularbriefingsonthe progressof the SOEin St Jamesandwas he
satisfiedwithitsprogress?Washe alertedinadvance regardingthe needformore than30 days in
whichto successfully completethe mission?Washe confidentthatanextensionwould be granted
by parliament?
What of the oppositionPNP?Itsobjectiontosupportinganextensionappearsnot tobe whetheror
not the missionhadbeenachievedbutratherthatthere were abusesasdetailedbythe public
defenderinherreportregardingthose citizensdetained.A situationtheyhadeveryrightto
condemn.Wasit sufficientgroundstonotsupportan extensionof the SOE?Couldtheynothave
demandedthe scalpsof those whoneglectedtoensure thatthe rightsof those citizenswere not
abusedandachievedtheirobjective?
As itstands,the debate will nodoubtcontinue alongpartypoliticallineswitheachside confident
the the other isto be blamedwiththe real guiltyonestakingcoverbehindthe coattailsof their
master!A sure recipe tomask incompetence!