Thaindian News

KINGSTON (BNO NEWS) — Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Sunday declared a state of emergency for parts of Kingston and St Andrew as violence continues to escalate in the region.

Tensions have continued to rise on Sunday with protesters of an alleged drug lord setting fire to police stations, while gunfire can be heard. Protesters of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, an alleged drug lord who faces extradition to the United States, have also put up roadblocks.

Golding said that, based on an update and advice from the security forces, he summoned an emergency meeting of the Cabinet at 2 p.m. local time to consider the advice. “The Cabinet took the decision to advise the Governor-General to issue a Proclamation pursuant to Section 26 of the Constitution declaring that a state of public emergency exists in the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew,” a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said.

The declaration will come into effect at 6 p.m. local time on Sunday (2300 GMT) and will remain in effect for at least one month unless extended by the House of Representatives or revoked earlier.

Sunday’s violence has led to some injuries, but there were no reports of fatalities.

The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert for the Caribbean country earlier this week, citing ‘developing security concerns’. “The possibility exists for violence and/or civil unrest in the greater Kingston metropolitan area,” the department said in its travel alert on Friday. “There are unconfirmed reports of criminal gang members amassing in the Kingston area, as well as mobilization of Jamaican defense forces.”

The U.S. said that, if the situation ignites, there is a possibility of severe disruptions of movement within Kingston, including blocking of access roads to the Norman Manley International Airport.