Opposition says gov't lagging behind in passing laws to combat crime

   

The parliamentary opposition has expressed disappointment that the government has failed to include legislation as part of measures to combat crime and violence.

 

Opposition Spokesman on National Security Peter Bunting pointed out that the Enhanced Security Measure Act, touted by the government as part of its crime fighting strategy, has not materialised.

 

He was responding to the declaration of a State of Public Emergency in Clarendon on the heels of Sunday's mass shooting at Cherry Tree Lane in the parish.

 

Senator Bunting says the government is lagging behind in passing laws to target criminals.

 

"From 2019, we have heard of this enhanced security measure, a particular piece of legislation that really was supposed to be more targeted than the states of emergency and would address this type of situation. A couple of years ago, the Opposition Leader actually himself drafted a framework where the sort of pre-charge detention that you could target at these particular gangs or members of the gangs, could operate, albeit supervised by the court. We've heard nothing further from the government for these five years," he contended. 

 

Sentator Bunting was speaking Thursday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines.