Golding disappointed with possible passage of ESMA without PNP support

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has expressed disappointment with National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang's remarks about potentially passing the Enhanced Security Measures Act (ESMA) without input from the parliamentary Opposition.

Golding's reaction came after Chang's recent media interview, where he suggested that the Government might need to move forward with passing the ESMA in Parliament due to a lack of consensus with the Opposition on the Act.

Originally proposed in 2019, the ESMA aims to empower security forces with necessary tools to disrupt criminal networks, reduce violence, and enhance public order.

"It is a piece of legislation that would be good for the both the present and the future, and we may have to use the (Government's) majority in Parliament and pass some legislation, and let the courts decide if they are within the constitutional bar," Chang, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, stated on the radio earlier this week.

During a People's National Party (PNP) tour of Manchester, Golding responded, criticizing the Government for not consulting with the Opposition on the ESMA.

"I'm very disappointed that the Minister of National Security has said that the ESMA can be passed without the Opposition," Golding said. "We (the Opposition) have been calling for the Enhanced Security Measures Act for years. We have not seen anything about it for about four years," he alleged.

Golding highlighted that the PNP has proposed a specific mechanism aimed at targeting serious violent offenders with credible intelligence against them. He stated that this mechanism would help build cases against such offenders, leading to effective prosecutions.

On that note, Golding expressed his desire to see such a proposal included in the ESMA legislation.

"We don't know what's in it (ESMA), we've not been consulted, but you know, we need to have all hands-on deck in this fight against violent crime. So, for the Minister of National Security to be pre-empting the situation without having consulted with us, without having briefed us on what he's proposing, and to say that they can pass it without the Opposition, is very unfortunate because it's a divisive approach, and we really need Team Jamaica, all... well-thinking Jamaicans on board to get ahead of this crime monster that's plaguing our nation," declared Golding.

He also took the opportunity to commend the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for its improvements in reducing murders in 2024.
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