Gov’t, Opposition spar over ZOSO hotline clash
THE OPPOSITION’S zones of special operations (ZOSO) complaints number, announced through the media last Friday, has left some worried it could create confusion and stymie the efforts of the joint command to actively take on the concerns of citizens on the ground. This as the Opposition number ends with the same four digits as the official one.
The ZOSO Communication Centre on Saturday urged persons to call 1-888-225ZOSO (888-225-9676) – the dedicated tollfree number – to lodge complaints about treatment by security forces operating inside the first zone, which has been set up in Mount Salem, St James.
The Opposition’s number (876) 361ZOSO, or 361-9676 has left Robert Morgan, communications director in the Office of the Prime Minister, thinking it could confuse potential callers.
“I don’t speak for the ZOSO joint command, but, from a communications perspective from the Office of the Prime Minister, we are concerned because it could lead to some amount of confusion and what we are seeking is for people to report their concerns directly to the authorities, so that the framework that exists and which has
been passed into law can be used to ensure that those concerns are addressed as soon as possible,” he said.
OFFICIAL COMPLAINT
“There is one official ZOSO complaints customer service number and that is the one that we would prefer persons go through first.”
While saying he would not ascribe a motive for the creation of the “other ZOSO hotline”, Morgan said that it makes no sense to have a number bearing such close similarity to the official one being used for the same purpose.
“The people who are being impacted by the zone of special operations at this time live in Montego Bay, they live in the community; the joint command is located within their community, so it doesn’t make sense for somebody to be calling a political organisation based in Kingston, when they will not have an opportunity to help immediately. This is pure and simple politics,” Morgan said.