Jamaica - November 2022

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.

Sources: Caribbean National Weekly (1), Caribbean National Weekly (2), Periódico Hoy, Reuters, Statista