JAMAICA Has has imposed several States of Public Emergency (SOEs) in three western parishes due to an alarming surge in murders on the island.

The news will worry families of Jamaican descent who planned to visit relatives for Christmas.

Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness announced on Sunday the new SOEs will apply to St James, Hanover and Westmoreland, along with police divisions in the Corporate Area; St Andrew South, Kingston West, Kingston East and Kingston Central.

During an emergency press conference, Mr Holness highlighted that the listed areas had recorded a worrying increase in violent crime, ranging between 16 to 57%. 

“All have murder rates per 100 000 in excess of the regional average which is 15 per cent. In fact, the murder rate… in these divisions ranges from a low of approximately 47 per 100 000 to 190 per 100 000,” he said.

“We have decided to recommend the declaration of SOEs having regard to the increase in murders compared year on year both in the communities in which we have declared them and nationally and these increases we consider to be of an extensive scale such that they threaten public safety both in the communities in which the SOEs have been declared and nationally,” he added.

In recent weeks, the Caribbean island’s murder rate has continued to increase. Last week, eight people murdered between Friday and Saturday on the island.  

The PM also stressed the SOEs had been implemented due to the nature of the crimes being committed, “which has evolved to a level of barbarity, [and] a level of savagery, [such that] it is almost [like] a competition for cruelty.”

Many resident’s living in the affected areas have welcomed the new plans. 

The Jamaican government hope the SOEs will restore normalcy in the targeted communities and protect the lives of Jamaicans. 

The new SOEs became effective at midnight on Sunday 14 November, and it remains unclear how long the new restrictions will be in place for.