The Office of the Prime Minister has announced that a State of Public Emergency is now in effect for the parishes of Clarendon, St Ann as well as the Kingston West Police Division.

This measure came into effect at 12:01 this morning and will remain for a period of 14 days.

The imposition also comes in response to what was deemed by the Office of the Prime Minister as a surge in criminal activities with murders and shootings topping the list.

Last week, the parish of St Ann was rocked with two fatal shooting incidents involving a 62-year-old taxi operator Kenrick Mignott who was gunned down by men pretending to be passengers, and 20-year-old Kimanie Lettman.

Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson also stated that murders recorded in the St Ann policing division are 22 per cent higher than in the corresponding period of 2021.

Commissioner Anderson also added that of the 11 murders committed so far 9 of them are gun-related.

In Clarendon, however, murders are up by 200 per cent while shootings are up by 100 per cent.

The Kingston West Policing Division has also seen a steady increase in criminal activities with a total of 17 murders and 12 shooting incidents recorded from January 1 to February 10.

In the interim, citizens in these divisions are being urged to cooperate with the security forces as they work assiduously to quell the tide of violence.