antigang
June 12, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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Anti-Gang Bill Closer to Becoming Law

The Anti-Gang Bill is one step closer to becoming law, with Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Matthew Samuda leading the debate on the amendments in the Senate today.

In a statement today, the ministry said the amended Bill, entitled The Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) (Amendment) Act, 2021, will sufficiently supplement the Anti-Gang Act, while including appropriate safeguards to bring to its full potential as a legal tool that the justice system can employ in the fight against organised crime.

Samuda said that the specific amendments are designed to address the weaknesses of the principle legislation that led to its underutilisation in the courts.

He told the Senate that the principal legislation is being amended to reflect the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee (JSC), which was established to review amendments to the Bill.

The minister noted that the ministry also considered subsequent court judgments related to the 2014 Act, as well as further consultation with key stakeholders.

“Among the most important considerations throughout this process Mr President, is how seldom the principal legislation has been applied in the courts between the time it came into effect and the period of JSC review,” Samuda said.

He added: “Before the JSC commenced, the courts only handed down two convictions based on the Anti-Gang Act, as a result of guilty pleas. (The Uchence Wilson trial coincided with JSC and several people were convicted on offences under the Act). Consequently, the potential of the legislation to undermine organised crime in Jamaica has not been fully realized,” he added.

the Anti-Gang legislation has the potential to be as impactful in the Jamaican context as the comparable United States Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisation Act.

Samuda told the Senate that Jamaica remains inordinately plagued by the activities of organised criminal gangs and cited statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) noting that there are 379 gangs present in Jamaica, of which 262 are considered active.

He also said for the year 2020, the JCF has assessed that 802 or 61 per cent of murders were gang related.

“Mr President, the Government has been successful in disrupting and halting the activities of criminal gangs in some hotspots through the application of ZOSOs and SOEs. Over the four years prior to the Mount Salem ZOSO, for example, that community recorded 19 murders and 33 shootings, the majority of which were gang related. In the four years since the ZOSO began, there were five murders and five shootings—a fall of 74 per cent and 85 per cent respectively,” Samuda said.

According to the ministry, overall, category one offences such as murder, shooting, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, break-ins, larceny, were reduced by 71 per cent in Mount Salem.

”Over the periods of ZOSOs, Category One crimes in Denham Town, Greenwhich Town, and August Town declined 41 per cent, 27 per cent and 95 per cent respectively over comparable periods,” the ministry said.

“As you can see, Mr President, the ZOSO and SOE measures have been effective in curtailing the activities of organised criminal groups where they have been applied so far. However, it is this legislation that will enable the justice system to play its critical part in winding up existing gangs and preventing new ones from forming,” Samuda noted.

World environment day pic
June 5, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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Happy World Environment Day !

WorldEnvironmentDay serves to remind us about our duty of care to 🇯🇲‘s ecosystem, & to play our part in confronting the ravages of #ClimateChange. We all should be Environmentalists.
Seaga Thanskgiving
May 30, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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Thanksgiving Church Service In Honour of The Most Honourable Edward Phillip George Seaga ON, PC, LLD, (Hon), D.LITT

This morning I joined my colleague Ministers, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang and Hon. Desmond McKenzie at the Thanksgiving Service in honor of the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, former Prime Minister and MP for West Kingston, in commemoration of his 91st birthday and the 2nd anniversary of his death.
We maintained Covid-19 protocols, while we celebrated the life and legacy of a renowned humanitarian nd political giant.
Labour Day picture 2021
May 24, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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Happy Labour Day !

Labour Day hasn’t been the same for 2 years.
It’s just another thing Covid has taken from us. We are unable to move freely and labour on the projects that we would normally focus on.
As disappointing as this is, please stay home, do something that you have been avoiding , plant in ur garden, paint, clean up, just labour at home. Stay at home stay safe, clean up ur space!
ENDS Pic
May 21, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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248 Businesses Expected To Use ENDS This Weekend

Approximately 248 businesses are expected to utilise the E-Commerce National Delivery System (ENDS) platform this weekend, as the Government continues to expand the service island-wide.

The web-based ENDS system enables quick-service industry and delivery stakeholders registered on the platform, to operate during the curfew hours implemented to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

ENDS is a partnership between the Government and the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ).

Providing an update on the platform during Wednesday’s (May 19) virtual post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Hon. Matthew Samuda said applications have been received from businesses in every single parish in Jamaica.

“We expect to have up to 248 businesses using the ENDS platform this weekend and that is evenly spread right across the country. Persons who are also visiting the website would notice that several upgrades have been done by e-Gov in recent weeks and the platform is much more user-friendly. This programme, we believe, is a bit of a silver lining… as it is moving several small and micro businesses into the 21st century,” Senator Samuda said.

He informed that companies registered for the ENDS programme have been installing new hardware and software as well as creating new apps to enhance customer experience.

“We are also seeing a boom in the number of companies who are offering an end-to-end payment solution. Some of these companies have gone as far as tackling logistics, which augurs well for the future of the delivery economy,” he said, noting that entities are retooling their staff and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Minister Samuda remained persons that the Government does not collect or process the information of customers placing orders but rather, directs them to businesses on the e-commerce platform

Vaccine pic
May 17, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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Mentally Ill Inmates to Receive Special Care.

the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) will be seeking to employ a senior psychiatrist to ensure that inmates with mental illnesses are properly attended to while in state care

According to the ministry, this is part of steps being taken by to address the ”shortcomings in the country’s penal institutions.”

He made the announcement during an update to the nation on the internal audit conducted by the ministry into the death of Noel Chambers, during this morning’s sitting of the Senate.

Chambers was an incarcerated 81-year-old mentally ill inmate being who died in state care.

Samuda said it is important that he addresses the matter frontally given the deficiencies in the medical unit within the Human Resource Department of the DCS.

He noted that an organisational chart was prepared by the medical unit to provide a strategic roadmap to address staffing issues at the DCS.

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service approved the organisational chart in December 2020.

“Colleagues should note that this is not necessarily an easy position to have filled but it is now on our establishment and we are seeking to have that happen,” said Samuda.

He noted that the ministry has taken steps to address some of the notable concerns previously highlighted. These include, ensuring that a master listing for the respective courts are prepared and submitted accordingly, which he said is crucial in ensuring that DCS meets its legal obligations in a timely manner.

He added that given the urgency of the situation, a Specialised Project is being undertaken in the interim and assistance from development partners to fund the project is being sought.

To treat with the issue of overcrowding, the minister said: “The MNS and DCS are currently seeking to provide for renovations, despite the lack of capital budget. An assessment of all facilities is being undertaken, to ensure a tiered approach in addressing a myriad of infrastructural concerns.”

He said in recognition of the fiscal constraint and the need to urgently address the issue, the MNS has led discourse with notable non-governmental organisations such as Missionaries of the Poor — though those discussions are at the preliminary stage.

“I have provided updates, every time DCS has been brought in to focus for issues of national concern. I committed when this issue was raised, that we would not allow Mr Chambers’ death to be a nine-day wonder or for his death to not bring about the changes so desperately required for those in our custody. That commitment still stands. I will provide a complete update on the work being done in our Correctional Facilities and indeed our programme of reform during my State of the Nation Address,” said Samuda.

chang and matthew
May 15, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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Tour of the Kingston Central and Western Police Station Districts

Currently accompanying Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, CD, MP; Permanent Secretary, Courtney Williams; and Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson on a tour of the Kingston Central and Western police stations and districts.
The tour is being led by the Jamaica Constabulary Force team to get an overview of the current infrastructure and what plans can be made, under Project R.O.C for improvements.
We are committed to providing safe, comfortable and intelligence driven facilities, in order to safeguard our citizens, in these challenging times.
Read across jamaica day 2
May 4, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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Read Across Jamaica Day !

Today we recognize Read Across Jamaica Day as part of the Education Week being celebrated from May 5 to 11.
The theme “Empowering Educators: Retooling, Innovating, Networking for Sustainable Development” showcases the need to providing teachers with the necessary tools and innovative solutions to furthering our children’s reading skills.
Reading is vital as it assists with brain development and we should encourage our children to read a new book regularly. #ReadingIsFundamental #ReadingIsFun
#ReadAcrossJamaicaDay
Vaccine pic
April 29, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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INMATES across the island are expected to begin receiving COVID-19 jabs this week although more than 80 per cent of this vulnerable population are opposed to vaccination against the coronavirus.

“We will begin with… prisoners who have indicated willingness this week. The vaccine hesitancy [among prisoners] is high and unfortunate. An estimate of those hesitant is above 80 per cent. We do, however, expect it to fall precipitously once the process commences,” said Samuda.

More than 100,000 people have been vaccinated across the country since the Government began its vaccination blitz in March following a spike in daily cases. Priority groups at that time included health-care workers, seniors and members of the security forces.

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged countries not to ignore those in correctional facilities, arguing that immunisation in detention facilities can play a big role in reducing inequities in countries.

“People living and working in prisons should not be neglected as national programmes of COVID-19 vaccination roll out globally,” the WHO said.

The organisation said research it conducted showed that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 is higher in prisons, where people live close to each other and have limited access to testing and personal protective equipment.

Compared to the wider community, WHO said people living in prisons have a disproportionally higher burden of comorbidities, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which increases their chances of suffering severe outcomes from COVID-19.

Samuda acknowledged that the population is a vulnerable one and said that the Government remains optimistic that aversion to vaccination, which is not mandatory, will subside.

“The population in our correctional facilities is particularly vulnerable. As such, we think the population must be vaccinated. We are hopeful that the hesitancy will subside,” he said.

There are close to 4,000 prisoners at correctional facilities across the island.

Meanwhile, WHO said as COVID-19 vaccines become available, the inclusion of people living and working in prisons in national immunisation programmes is not being universally adopted.

It said even though good practice exists in many countries, the diversity of criteria adopted between and within countries puts equality of health protection at risk. The organisation said that is essential to understand that loss of freedom should not lead to loss of health.

Picture for website re airport visit
April 23, 2021 0 Comment Arrayma Smith
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Jamaicans stranded in the United Kingdom to be repatriated

We welcomed home 27 Jamaicans who were stranded in Britain on  Wednesday (April 21), as permission was granted for them to land, despite the closure of our borders to incoming flights from the United Kingdom (UK).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, families of arriving passengers were asked not to meet at the airport as the individuals will be housed in a government managed quarantine facility for 14 days.
We thank relatives for their patience and understanding as we seek to safely repatriate our citizens, under controlled measures, during this COVID-19 pandemic.

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