PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson yesterday said the security forces will not relent in the fight against crime and violence, despite calculated attacks.
"Go and find them and bring them to book," declared the Prime Minister in a statement yesterday. "Any community, group or person who stands in your way must expect the brunt of the full force of the law for obstructing you in the lawful execution of your duty."
The following is the Prime Minister's
statement:
"We are all horrified at the brazen and dastardly attacks on our police officers and members of a private security company which have left three policemen and two security guards dead and a police officer injured. These brutal slayings appear to be reprisals against the security forces for their successes in the fight against criminal gangs.
"On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, I extend condolence to the families and colleagues of those who have died.
"These latest assaults are another stark reminder of the monumental task that we face as a nation to rid our country of crime and violence. There are those in our midst who seem determined to terrorise whole communities, groups and the entire nation. Their sole objective is to drive fear into the hearts of the Jamaican people and to beat our security forces into subjection.
"It must not be allowed. The security forces will not be daunted and can be assured that all decent, law-abiding citizens fully support their efforts to rid Jamaica of crime and violence.
"Now is the time for all of us to make a stand together. Let us be united in our condemnation of these vicious and heartless criminals. Let us stand behind our security forces and give them our full support to flush them out and bring them to justice.
"I am calling on the communities wherever these men live and hide, to reject and expose them.
"I am calling on organised civil society to let their voices be heard on behalf of the decent law-abiding Jamaicans whose most basic and fundamental right, the right to life, continues to be violated in the most vicious ways.
"Our security forces must not yield. They must be relentless and resolute in responding to this attack. Go and find them and bring them to book. Any community, group or person who stands in your way must expect the brunt of the full force of the law for obstructing you in the lawful execution of your duty.
"Today, our nation mourns. But we must not give up the fight for what is good and right. Jamaicans are strong. We will rise above this. We will prevail. We will conquer this evil in our midst. And we must not rest until we have accomplished this work.
"Now is the time to put aside all partisan considerations or selfish concerns and unite in the fight against crime."
