By John Myers, Jr. Staff Reporter THE REPUBLICAN Party of Jamaica (RPJ) has backed the call for a state of emergency, but proposes that it be restricted to five parishes. In addition, the party is proposing that current National Security Minister, Peter Phillips, be replaced by his colleague Portia Simpson Miller, and that Professor Trevor Munroe be co-opted as her junior minister.
The RPJ in a release issued said Prime Minister P.J. Patterson should "immediately call a state of emergency for Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon and St. James."
"We have noticed that in those parishes they tend to have the highest amount of incidences (of crime) even with deaths and injuries," said RPJ chairman Denzil Taylor, speaking with The Gleaner.
"It seems like the criminals in those areas feel now that they can just go about freely and do whatever they want to do..."
The proposal for a state of emergency was first made by Kingsley Thomas, a key advisor to Prime Minister Patterson. The suggestion has generated much debate, mostly against it.
Mr. Thomas argued that the nature of crime in Jamaica today demands tough and decisive action.
CURTAILING CRIME
Mr. Taylor says with a state of emergency the police would be able to curtail the movement of criminals, thereby putting a cap on the crime situation.
He also suggested that the Government re-appoint Col. Trevor MacMillan as police commissioner, to work alongside Mrs. Simpson Miller, the current Minister of Local Government.
"I think that Portia commands the kind of respect at the grass route level that even some of the hardened criminals would listen to her plea for another way, she speaks the language of the have not," Mr. Taylor said.
CALL FOR NEW CMU
The RPJ is also calling for the disbanded Crime Management Unit (CMU) to be re-instated with Deputy Commissioner of Police Jevene Bent as its head, supported by Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams and Deputy Superintendent Cornwall 'Bigga' Ford.
The RPJ chairman downplayed fears expressed by some regarding granting totalitarian authorities to the Government, noting that occurrences of excesses would be remote, especially since there is freedom of the press.
The RPJ has also put forward its own ideas on enhancing job creation, education and constitutional reform as medium to long term solutions to the crime problem.
Among its ideas for economic growth and job creation is the legalisation of ganja. This it said would pave the way for the development of medicines such as Asthmasol and Canasol for export.
