Golding at the mic

PM: Scrap metal ban will remain

Prime Minister Bruce Golding Wednesday night gave the clearest indication yet that the Government's decision to ban the scrap metal trade will not be reviewed before next year.

Golding, speaking on 'Jamaica House Live', also said the Government remains firm on the trade ban as scrap metal dealers have not been honouring their commitments.

He said the advice of the Customs Department played a significant part in the Government's decision to ban the scrap metal trade.

The Customs Department has maintained that the reason for the spike in the theft of legitimate metal is that local scrap metals have been exhausted.

Scrap metal dealers and former industry minister, Karl Samuda, have criticised the Government for shutting down the trade without exploring other options.

Murder reduction slows

The reduction in the murder rate has now slowed to 34 per cent from the 42 per cent recorded up to last month, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced Wednesday night.

However, Golding said the reduced percentage does not mean that there has been a loss on the grip on crime.

According to the prime minister, the actual number of murders committed after the May incursion last year was lower than the figure recorded for the period before the operations.

As a result, Golding said when compared with this year's figures the percentage reduction in murders is lower.

Significant increase in police operations

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has reported that the police have reaped major successes as a result of intensified operations since the start of this year.

During his monthly call-in programme Wednesday night, Golding said between the period of January 1 and July 25, the police imposed 1,112 curfews across the country.

He said this was much higher than the 469 imposed during the same period last year.

The prime minister further indicated that the number of persons arrested and charged by police has also seen a 60 per cent increase, as 35,775 people have been arrested and charged.

Golding also said spot checks by the police have move up by 60 per cent.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said the number of extrajudicial killings by the police has declined.

While not providing the specific figure, he indicated that the police had killed 36 fewer people when compared to figures during the same period last year.

Gruesome murders warrant death penalty

Perpetrators of gruesome killings, like the recent beheadings in St Catherine and St Andrew, should face the death penalty, Prime Minister Bruce Golding has declared.

Speaking on his monthly call-in programme Jamaica House Live Wednesday night, Golding said he was prepared for the debate that would follow his suggestions.

However, Golding maintained that Jamaica must send a strong signal that it will not condone the crimes.

His comments came days after the police high command said the four recent beheading cases were aimed at driving fear into law abiding citizens.

The prime minister said he made an unannounced visit to Lauriston, St Catherine, on Sunday, where a woman, her daughter and a man were beheaded a week ago.

He said the level of fear he observed was chilling.

Golding said Jamaica is now at a point where it needs to decide whether the perpetrators of crimes like beheadings should face the death penalty.

According to the prime minister, Parliament voted more than a year ago to retain the death penalty, and the Government will uphold the law.

The Parliament has also passed laws, limiting the period in which a convict on death row must complete all his appeals.

With that amendment, a convict will not be allowed to stretch out the appeals period beyond five years when his execution would no longer be possible based on the Pratt and Morgan ruling.