Government Vows Tough, Swift and Decisive Action for Perpetrators of Clarendon Attack
“The security forces will launch an all-out assault on any gang involved. Every gang will feel the full force of the State. This must never happen in Jamaica again. Everyone involved in this act of terror will be brought to justice.”
– Prime Minister Holness
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness has vowed strong, decisive action for those involved in Sunday’s deadly attack in Cherry Tree Lane, Four Paths, Clarendon, which resulted in the killing of eight persons including an 8-year-old child, and the injuring of nine others.
Speaking this morning at a press conference, hours after the incident and following an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, Prime Minister Holness condemned the incident as an act of terror.
The Prime Minister said every individual involved in this barbaric act of terror will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.
Prime Minister Holness announced that the State will deploy every resource to dismantle the criminal networks responsible and prevent such atrocities from ever recurring.
“I stand here today with firm resolve that everyone, and I mean everyone, who was in any way involved in this incident, will be brought to justice. I want to make that absolutely clear. This incident cannot be allowed to stand in any way, lest it become the normal routine of criminals,” Prime Minister Holness declared.
As part of the government’s strategy to combat this act of terror, Prime Minister Holness made it clear that the law enforcement officers in this operation will launch an all-out assault on every active gang in the country.
“We have given directions to the security forces to launch an all-out assault on the gangs that are involved.… Every gang member and every gang will feel the full force of the state. This must never happen again in Jamaica.”
The Prime Minister continued: “This will be the operational and strategic stance of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the Major Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), and all our other intelligence modalities going forward… Operationally, they must go after every gang in Jamaica. The gangs that have been identified as being directly responsible for this act are connected with other gangs. And so we must pull the thread to where it leads. So today, every gang leader should ‘tek weh themselves.”
The Prime Minister highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that the attack was not merely a criminal act but an attack on the entire nation.
A 96-hour curfew has been imposed in sections of Clarendon as part of the heightened security measures. The Jamaica Defence Force has deployed a special team to assist the Jamaica Constabulary Force in their search for the hoodlums and to ensure the safety and security of the residents.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness revealed that the government is aware of the involvement of overseas individuals and incarcerated gang members in this heinous act.
The Prime Minister also addressed the broader issue of organized, armed violence, describing it as a growing threat not only in Jamaica but across the Caribbean and beyond. “This level of planned organized armed violence must be addressed unequivocally… It is not merely a criminal act. Organized armed violence is an act of terror, and we must treat them as criminal terrorists,” he affirmed.
Prime Minister Holness extended his deep condolences and sympathies to the families affected by this tragic event and encouraged citizens to support the investigation by cooperating with authorities and providing any information that could assist in apprehending those responsible.
Prime Minister Holness also visited the community and met with affected families this afternoon.