In an effort to stop the buildup of crime in Jamaica National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says the Government will be redoubling its efforts to introduce key reforms in hopes that it will help. It was acknowledged by Minister Chang that the government was not up to speed with its legislative agenda to use the parliament to push the reforms through that could help with the crime waves going through Jamaica right now.
Minister Chang stated that he has engaged the Ministry of justice and the Attorney General’s department to help produce and pass the critical legislation, while he was addressing a plethora of issues in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
“We have indicated clearly to the crime consensus committee that I have engaged extensively with the Minister of Justice who has responsibility for elements of getting legislation done and the Attorney General’s Department and reorganize our own policy team and we are now pushing aggressively and will ensure that those pieces of legislation will be brought to the House this year starting this quarter,” said Chang who is also the deputy prime minister.
Apart from this legislation there is also the proposed new Firearms Act, there are amends to anti – gang legislation and regulations for the Major Organized Crime and anti – corruption agency. Minister Chang has spoken well and praised the roll out of the Jamaica Eye infrastructure across several towns and also credited the surveillance systems for being a major player in catching criminals who were being savages and also trying to escape.
The national security minister said because of Jamaica Eye, criminals are now being caught shortly after committing crimes. To complement the system, there has been a partial rollout of a quick response team, Chang said. “We are in the process of introducing the quick response team in the Corporate Area despite the incidents in the last two weeks. We [are] not going to rush to put the bikes on the road. The men are being trained and they will complete their training before they are put on the road in February,” the minister stated.
