KINGSTON, Jamaica, Nov 7, CMC – The Jamaica government says it will amend legislation to ensure that developers implement specific security infrastructure in new developments.
National Security Minister Robert Montague also urged Jamaicans to partner with the Ministry of National Security to create a national close-circuit television (CCTV) system.
“This administration is taking to Parliament very soon, an amendment to the law, if you are doing a development of over 400 units you must, at the developer’s expense establish a police post and Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs),” he said.
Montague said this would support the work of officers who are stationed in close proximity to the development.
“We can’t be building approximately 1200 houses in one place and don’t put a police post there,” he said, adding that the necessary support systems have to be put in place to ensure safety and security within communities.
Montague said as the Andrew Holness government seeks to establish the national CCTV system “we are going to be setting up a system where we are going to be asking you to give us or lend us your feed from specific cameras”.
The National Security Minister said this would assist the police in solving crimes committed in specific areas and that the government is still exploring the option of electronically monitoring low risk offenders.
He said this would significantly reduce the amount of money spent to house inmates in penal institutions.
“It cost you the tax payer J$880,000 (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.008 cents) per year to keep one man and when you electronically monitor them, it cost you $77, 000,” he said, adding that the plan is for family members to provide the financial support.
Montague told a town hall meeting that proper waiting facilities will be built to accommodate families who visit inmates.