‘Stamping out crime is not a 5K’
Government senators push back at talk of SOE public relations
THE EMERGENCY Powers (Amendment) Act 2021 was passed in the Senate on Friday without any amendments despite strong arguments against it by Leader of Opposition Business Peter Bunting and his colleague, Damion Crawford.
Bunting argued that with the constitutional validity of the Government’s use of states of emergency (SOEs) now before the Court of Appeal, he hoped the amendment was not a precursor to any attempt to reimpose the measure as a routine crimefighting tool before a judgment is handed down.
“We believe it shows a lack of respect for the separation of powers and the proper role of the judiciary as the guardian of the Constitution,” he declared.
Bunting argued that the Emergency Powers Act and the Emergency Public Security Act were enacted shortly before the Second World War to deal with extraterritorial conflicts.
“Bringing this bill at this time is really shallow public relations. ... It is majoring in the minors. It shows no understanding of what the priorities are in passing legislation that will help the people of Jamaica,” Bunting said.
However, government Senator Natalie Campbell-Rodriques put up a stout defence of the Holness administration, insisting that it would not be intimidated by pending court action.
“Any government that cowers from the act of governing from the fear of embarrassment is not fit to lead,” Campbell-Rodriques declared.
“We must enforce the seriousness of law in Jamaica. As a people we cannot continue to complain about lawlessness but not support strong consequences,” she said, pointing out that the high rate of violence was fuelled by organised crime, gang activities, and access to guns.
The main victims and perpetrators of violence were young males, said Campbell-Rodriques, with women and girls not insulated from attacks.
“To stamp out crime and violence is not a 5K, 10K, or even a half-marathon but is instead a full marathon. We are finally on a path to see the end of the race,” she added.
Meanwhile, Crawford said that the Government’s boast about mega investments in infrastructure and human resources was ill conceived.
“The number of murders is going up, even with all the investments that you are speaking to, and that therefore points to an unproductive process. For some reason, the Government seems to be committed to the exact, same process that has not delivered on sufficient output,” he said, referring to the 10 per cent yearon-year surge in murders.
But Senator Matthew Samuda, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, argued that had SOEs not been dissolved in the summer of 2020, more than a hundred lives would have been saved.
“It is my firm belief that had we had use of those measures, those Jamaicans would be here with us. That is my firm belief and it is a travesty that we have not been able to use these measures.”