Jamaica in cash for guns programme
(Jamaica Gleaner) Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Sunday announced a massive national firearm recovery reward programme as well as a five-day grace period for illegal weapons found on premises in the Mount Salem community, which was last Friday declared Jamaica’s first zone of special operations (ZOSO).
“This is being done to encourage the citizens to work with the security forces and tell them where the guns are,” said Holness, who toured Mount Salem before hosting a press conference at which he spoke on a range of ZOSO-related matters.
Of the moratorium, he said, “After the five days, the police will return to the strict application of the law.”
The prime minister nonetheless noted that, in instances where a gun found during the grace period can be traced to a crime and its ownership can be determined, that person is liable for prosecution.
Speaking on the reward programme for the recovery of weapons, Holness said it was one of two major incentivised initiatives that will take effect today. The other is a fugitive apprehension scheme.
“The first is a $100-million reward programme for information from the public leading to the recovery of firearms, ammunition and explosives,” said Holness. “The funds will be administered by the Ministry of National Security.”
With regard to the Fugitive Prime Minister Andrew Holness (second from left) is flanked by Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte, member of parliament for St James West Central, and Major Godphey Sterling, who is leading the Jamaica Defence Force’s efforts in Mount Salem, St James. Holness was touring the community, which was last week named the first zone of special operations.
Apprehension Scheme, the prime minister said a $20-million reward scheme will be put in place for assistance in apprehending high-profile criminals. “We will be identifying the top-20 violence producers in Jamaica and we will be offering $1 million for each of them,” said Holness.
“The list will be published by the security forces in short order.”
In giving a first-hand assessment of the situation in Mount Salem, the
prime minister said while there were some areas of concern outlined by the residents, they were happy that something substantial was finally being done to restore order.
“There were concerns raised about entry and exits and the matter of identification, but for the most part, the people are satisfied with the conduct of the security forces and understanding of the operation,” said Holness. (Trinidad Express) AN elderly woman was found murdered in her home at Chaguanas yesterday.
The victim has been identified by police as Ramdevi Singh, 75.
Her body was discovered in her own blood around mid-morning. The body was on the livingroom floor of the house at Imam Shah Street. Police said that Singh was found nude with an object tied around her neck. Officers of Chaguanas CID and Homicide Region III responded. Singh is the 40th woman to be killed for the year according to an Express tally.
On Saturday the body of Dr Claire Broadbridge was discovered with her throat slit in her home at Fondes Amandes Road, St Ann’s.
Broadbridge, a former director of the National Museum and Art Gallery, was found dead in the bedroom of her home around 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Her throat had been slit, and the assailants apparently set furniture on the ground floor of the home in an attempt to burn down the two-storey building. BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia and the Marxist ELN rebel group said yesterday they agreed a temporary ceasefire that would run through mid-January 2018, but it would not be in effect when Pope Francis arrives in the Andean country for a visit later this week.
The ceasefire, the first with the ELN, is due to begin on Oct. 1 and end on Jan. 12, with the possibility for extensions if it is respected, President Juan Manuel Santos said in a televised address to the country.
“The priority is to protect citizens, so during this period, kidnappings, attacks on oil pipelines and other hostilities against the civilian population will cease,” he said.
The two sides have long said the pope’s visit would be a good opportunity to call a ceasefire. The government said details and verification methods were still being finalized and that was why the ceasefire did not begin immediately.