Jamaica declares state of emergency in Clarendon after mass shooting

In response to the tragic mass shooting on Cherry Tree Lane in Clarendon, which left eight people dead, including a seven-year-old boy, and several injured, the Jamaican Government has declared a 14-day State of Emergency (SOE) in the parish.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the state of emergency at a news conference in his office on Wednesday, stressing the need to prevent possible reprisals following the deadly attack. Holness said intelligence indicated a “very high potential” for retaliatory violence, prompting the government to quickly implement the emergency measures.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang, who also attended the briefing, explained that the decision was based on the government’s assessment of the high violent crime rate in Clarendon. He noted that the ongoing gang violence in the parish has reached a critical point and posed a significant threat to public safety.

Mr Chang said: “The mass murders in a single day within the Clarendon Parish were the result of ongoing violence within the parish which had reached a level of severity that culminated in murder as a means of intimidation and further murder as a form of revenge as gangs sought to control existing turf.”

Prime Minister Holness assured the public that security forces throughout Clarendon have been fully mobilised to enforce the Special Operations Order to prevent further violence. He stressed that the measure is not intended to disrupt the lives of law-abiding citizens but to protect them.

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“Security forces will use this additional power in a very targeted and strategic way while ensuring that the human rights of citizens are protected,” Holness said. “In my view, the rights of victims should obviously take priority, but as a civilized nation, we also have a responsibility to show criminals that we are acting within the law.”

Holness praised the police’s performance following Sunday’s mass shooting, praising their professionalism, strategic approach and targeted actions.

The state of emergency will last for 14 days and government officials will closely monitor the situation in Clarendon.

Read more: $25 million reward fund established for information about the Clarendon massacre