Holness not keen on imposing SOE in Hurricane Melissa’s wake

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says the Government may have to impose security measures such as curfews as the country’s recovery progresses, but noted that it is not yet at that point, as it does not want to impose further hardship on Jamaicans.

Speaking in Parliament today, Holness said he understands the concerns raised about safety and public order.

There have been calls for heightened security measures amid reports of robberies targeting persons conducting relief exercises in parishes hit hard by Hurricane Melissa.

There have also been concerns about looting.

However, Holness said that while security is very important, the Government is also mindful of the sensitive humanitarian issues in hurricane-ravaged areas.

“I’m aware of persons calling for the implementation of emergency measures—States of Public Emergency or curfews. Madam Speaker, these are being considered. But we’re very sensitive to the current situation, and we do not want to impose further hardship on persons by implementing a security measure,” he told Parliament.

Holness said the Government is focused on ensuring security and safety along routes being used to transport relief to communities, as well as in locations where relief items are stored.

“We would have to put special measures around the routes that are to be travelled and protect the areas where supplies are stored and distributed,” he said.

“As well as, Madam Speaker, the availability of human resources—and so there are sensitive areas that we will have to man and maintain regular foot patrols and the like. It may therefore become necessary, in managing that, to have curfews and other measures. But we are not at that point just yet. These things are being planned out so that security operations do not come into conflict with the humanitarian situation that currently exists,” he added.

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