(Jamaica Gleaner) – National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang is urging members of the security forces to shoot to kill when confronted by armed gunmen, noting that the country was spending too much to treat criminals at public-health facilities.
Chang, who Jamaicans have rated the worst-performing Cabinet minister and have expressed little confidence in his ability to get the country’s crime situation under control in recent RJRGLEANER polls, made the comments on Thursday as he broke ground for the construction of the new Frome Police Station in Westmoreland.
“Any time a man takes up a gun after a police officer, I expect Commissioner [Antony Anderson] to train them [so that] when him fire, he must not miss,” the national security minister said.
There may be fatal shootings because man shoots guns after them. I not telling any policeman not to fire back, and I said it here in Westmoreland. I am not sending any ambulance out there either,” said Chang, noting that gunmen must be prepared to face the consequences of their actions.
“I don’t want him to come give any trouble to the hospital. I am not in that business. You go to hospital, it cost us $10 million to save him life. I am not into that. When criminal see police come, he must surrender,” he said, driving home the point.
Chang said that the police are well equipped to fight crime and that the Government remains committed to boosting resources to help make communities safer, adamant that criminals would not be allowed to roam freely and commit crimes with impunity.
He was quick to dismiss concerns of extrajudicial killings, which historically, have triggered alarm in the island, noting that the police are trained to operate professionally and to only engage those persons who unlawfully challenge them, so this would not be an issue.
Chang also noted that criminals who have been apprehended also had a right to a fair trial.
He said that while the Government is equipping the courts to operate efficiently, it could not instruct judges.
“I can’t tell the judge what to do. I can give him the laws, and I can give him a good courthouse, and I train the police officers to prepare the cases well,” said Chang.
The $175-million police station, which is being financed through the National Housing Trust, is expected to be completed by early 2025.