Security & Strategic Review - January 2023

*** JAMAICA REIMPOSES STATE OF EMERGENCY. On 28 December, Jamaica reimposed a 14-day state of emergency (SOE) in eight parishes, including in Kingston and in some central and western parts of the country, enabling the police to arrest people and search buildings without a warrant. The SOE was declared on 15 November, and then again on 6 December. On 5 October, the US State Department had issued a level 3 travel advisory for Jamaica indicating that US nationals should “reconsider travel” to Jamaica because of the threat of crime. The advisory said that “violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults and homicides, are common” and that “sexual assaults occur frequently”. It added that “local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents”.