Jamaica

After the measure was rejected in November, the Jamaican government reinstated a state of emergency (SOE) in several areas across the island on 6 December, followed by a renewed SOE on 28 December, effective until 11 January 2023. Jamaica, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, previously imposed similar measures over several parishes on 15 November, but that SOE ended after two weeks when the Senate refused to extend it.  The state of emergency is meant to allow authorities to arrest people and search buildings without a warrant in order to rein in rising violence. This has drawn heavy criticism from political opponents and human rights activists, who have warned against a repeat of police brutality and arbitrary detentions that were observed during previous states of emergency in Jamaica.

State of Emergency Gang Violence

On 15 November, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a State of Public Emergency (SoE) in an attempt to control rising crime linked to gang violence. According to official figures, Jamaica, with the second highest murder rates in the world, has seen a nearly 7 per cent increase in murders since last year. SoEs were declared in several parishes and police divisions across the island, allowing authorities increased powers to arrest suspects and search buildings. However, the SoE came to an end on 29 November after the proposed extension failed to achieve a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

State of Emergency Criminal Violence Andrew Holness