Denham Town and Mt Salem ZOZOs extended for 60 days
MEMBERS OF Parliament (MPs) Marlene Malahoo Forte and Dr Angela Brown Burke articulated completely different realities regarding the impact of the zones of special operations (ZOSOs), which the House of Representatives yesterday extended for 60 days in Denham Town, Kingston, and Mount Salem,
St James.
The House of Representatives convened during its break ahead of the sectoral debates to approve the resolution for extension.
“Insofar as the Mount Salem zone is concerned, the goals are being met, and the residents of the zone have consistently expressed their gratitude to the State for not only bringing the presence of law enforcement, but also for the social-intervention work that has commenced,” Malahoo Forte, MP for St James West Central, told the House during the debate of a motion to extend the ZOZOs.
In piloting the motion, Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted that there had been no reports of murder or major crimes in Mount Salem.
Conversely, Dr Brown Burke charged that criminality was still crippling Denham Town and her wider St Andrew South West constituency. “Since January to April 7, I think, 55 persons have been murdered,” she reported while being heckled by Government member Everald Warmington.
She added, “I want to know that the individuals who live in South West St Andrew can boast of the freedom of which others speak, can boast of the development of which others speak.”
Holness explained that the extension would facilitate activities under the “build phase” of ZOSO.” This extension is a necessary enabler to transform the communities through the intensified delivery of social services, which have already commenced but must be much further realised,” he asserted.
This is the third extension for Denham Town and fourth for Mount Salem after ZOSOs were declared on October 17 and September, respectively.
A ZOSO is employed by the Government to combat sustained crime in a community. The declaration is made by the prime minister after consultation with the National Security Council.