State of the Nation 2021 – Full Presentation
See the full presentation on the State of the Nation by Senator the Honourable Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security to the Senate on Friday, September 24, 2021.
State of the Nation Presentation – Securing Our Future
Join me live on PBC Jamaica tomorrow, September 24 at 10am as I give my State of the Nation Presentation under the theme “Securing our Future”.
I will be discussing my portfolio responsibilities – DCS, PSRA, JCCF – and specific duties that I was appointed to oversee – ENDS and Controlled Re-entry.
We all have a role to play in making Jamaica safer but, we at the Security Ministry, accept our leadership responsibility in achieving this, with humility and cognizance of the implications of our work.
Congratulations to Commodore Antonette Wemyss Gorman – Newly Appointed Chief of Defence
Congratulations to Commodore Antonette Wemyss Gormon, who is a diligent and dedicated security professional. She will be appointed in January 2022 as the first female Chief of Defence for the Jamaica Defence Force. Commodore Gorman will be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral when her appointment takes effect. She will replace Lieutenant General Rocky Meade who will retire after 38 years of devoted service to the Jamaica Defence Force. This is a historic moment and I support the growth and development of women – professionally and personally.
The Private Security to Contribute to Downward Trend in Crime
In the last three years, the Private Security Industry (PSI) contributed to a notable decrease in serious and violent crimes, robberies and break-ins
This downward trend is partly a result of the significant expansion of PSI, with an average annual growth of six per cent in the number of registered private security guards within the last 10 years.
last July, more than 200 private security companies with staff complements surpassing 21,000 were registered with the Private Security Regulation Authority (PSRA).
Private security entities have become an integral part of the security landscape in Jamaica, providing a wide range of services that enhance the security of public places, residential areas, workplaces and critical national infrastructure, thereby maintaining an environment conducive for business across all sectors. The industry is not only critical to advancing our national security interests, but also in supporting the country’s economic growth and development.
He noted that during the past 30 years, the island has experienced a surge in crime and violence, which can be closely linked to the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition, illicit drugs trade, financial fraud and extortion.
Private security firms have diversified to offer a variety of services such as CCTV operation and monitoring, aviation and seaport security, risk mitigation and loss prevention, anti-harassment services for the tourism sector, executive close protection, and security analytics.
World Alzheimer’s Day
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, behaviour and your thought process. it is caused by the abnormal build- up of proteins in and around the brain cells and symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks and lifestyle.
My family and I have seen the effects of this disease firsthand and had to deal with the emotional changes which gave us insight on the effects it has. To the families, caregivers, or anyone affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, stay strong, they took care of us, we will take care of them.
” We remember their love when they can no longer remember theirs “.
#BeThereForThem #WorldAlzheimer’sDay
ASIS International Chapter Meeting September 22, 2021
Join the conversation.
I will be discussing promoting Public Private Partnerships in Security.
Happy Birthday to The Right Honourable Mosiah Garvey
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” – Marcus Mosiah Garvey
St Mary murder rate down 50%
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Matthew Samuda, says St Mary’s murder rate is down by 50 per cent.
Samuda made the revelation on Friday during the official opening ceremony of the Police Post at Ian Fleming International Airport in Boscobel, St Mary.
“Serious and violent crimes in the parish as at yesterday (August 12) are down by 27 per cent. However, the metric that we tend to use to judge safety and security outcomes is usually the murder rate, and in this parish, the murder rate, year to date, is down 50 per cent,” Samuda said.
Samuda attributed the reduction to the Government’s efforts in improving security infrastructure and police mobility coupled with enhanced technology, human resource and training.
“We [the government] have been unrelenting in our efforts to provide the Police High Command with the relevant technological, surveillance, telecommunications, mobility, forensics, human resource and training, and intelligence apparatus to fulfil duties,” he said.
Samuda said under the Ministry’s Project Rebuild, Overhaul and Construct (P-ROC) over $5.2 billion in strategic investment has been allocated to improve the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
While pointing out the newly constructed police post which represents the latest success of Project ROC, he said “it is important to reinvest national gains into improving the welfare and safety of police officers”.
“This development, and Project ROC in general,” Samuda said “is a part of the ministry’s transformational agenda to strengthen the Constabulary Force, and the national security apparatus in its entirety, to overcome this country’s chronic security issues.
Visit to Stony Hill Police Station and Square with SSP Aaron Fletcher, Minister Juliet Cuthbert and Senior Team at MNS
Yesterday I toured the Stony Hill Police Station and the Environs of the Square alongside SSP Aaron Fletcher, Minister Juliet Cuthbert and a senior team from The Ministry of Nation Security.
This visit was done to assess the security infrastructure and technology needs of the JCF in the space, in addition to engaging with residents to assure them of our commitment to their security.
I remind citizens that there are safe ways to provide information to the police and in partnership we will make stony hill more secure and safe for all.
Stony Hill to receive JamaicaEye to assist in crime fight
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Matthew Samuda has stated that JamaicaEye is one of the suite of tools that will be used to improve crime fighting capabilities in Stony Hill.
“JamaicaEye plans to have a national presence and has been building out accordingly. All town centres are a priority to the Ministry and Stony Hill is one such commercial centre”, Samuda said during a tour of the Stony Hill Police Station and the town centre on Thursday.
The minister, who was accompanied by Member of Parliament for St Andrew West Rural, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn explained that despite a general downward trend in serious and violent crimes for the St Andrew North Police Division, Stony Hill has recorded an increase in crimes during the past few weeks, which the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been working to curb.
He noted that under the ministry’s Project Rebuild Overall and Construct (ROC), a number of JamaicaEye cameras will be installed in the Stony Hill community.
“The JCF needs a lot more investment if it is to truly be able to provide the sort of security needed nationally in every crevice. The Government is working and has prioritised its investment in security, which is evidenced by the mass renovation of just under 100 police stations and we are still doing so despite budgetary cuts imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also well known that JamaicaEye functions as a force multiplier and we would like to ensure that we have a force multiplier in effect for Stony Hill,” added Samuda.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police and Commanding Officer for the St Andrew North Police Division, Aaron Fletcher, said the use of technology is far enhancing the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) ability to combat crime. “I speak specifically to the Jamaica Eye Surveillance systems that are being installed, which have assisted with criminal apprehension. They have gone far in assisting us with our efforts to treat with investigations and the identification of perpetrators”, he said.
Superintendent Fletcher also pointed out that the JCF is able to use technology to track motor vehicles that have been used to aid in committing crimes, citing recent cases where vehicles used to commit crimes have been intercepted shortly after.