Jamaica Declares State of Emergency After Killings

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared a 14-day state of emergency in the southern Clarendon parish after a violent weekend left eight people dead, including a seven-year-old boy. The shootings occurred during a birthday party in Cherry Tree Lane, where gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, injuring nine others. The government has not specified the emergency measures but typically includes curfews and extended detention periods. Holness emphasized the need to combat gang violence, stating, “We cannot allow murders to be normalized in our country.” The prime minister expressed concerns about potential retaliatory violence, citing intelligence reports indicating a “very high probability” of further attacks. In response to the shootings, police have made five arrests and seized an illegal firearm. National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang linked the violence to an escalating turf war among gangs, noting that a previous state of emergency in November 2023 had led to a significant reduction in shootings. Jamaica has been grappling with high homicide rates, ranking as the second-deadliest country in the Latin American and Caribbean region, with 60.9 homicides per 100,000 people. Although the number of active gangs has decreased from 400 to 185 over the past five years, Holness acknowledged that the situation remains critical. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is also addressing rising gun violence, focusing on stronger law enforcement and curbing illegal firearm imports, primarily sourced from the United States.