OPM annouces SOE in Clarendon, St James

The Office of the Prime Minister has announced that the entire parishes of Clarendon and St James have been placed under a State of Emergency to combat the threat of "organised gangs" in these areas.

The measure came into effect at midnight on Tuesday, and will run for an initial period of 14 days. 

In a statement, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, "Organised gangs remain a threat in these parishes. Although there have been some successes in reducing murders through strategic and tactical security operations, more needs to be done."

Holness further declared that the Government will continue to use all tools at its disposal to "protect the lives of our citizens of Jamaica and dismantle the threat to law and order."

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