According to the Jamaican Bar Association (JAMBAR), the government needs to give dancehall musician Mr. Vegas’s suggestion to outlaw motorbike pillion riders significant consideration.
JAMBAR announced in a press release that it has taken note of Justice Minister Delroy Chuck’s efforts to raise the minimum required terms for murder convictions.
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JAMBAR asserted that given the “abysmally low” rate of crime resolution, raising the punishments will not effectively address the underlying problem.
It noted, “A more worthy parliamentary debate would be to consider whether motorcycles should be barred from carrying pillion riders, a proposal from dancehall artist Mr Vegas.”
The association added, “Of course, it can be tweaked: for example, no male pillion or no adult pillion or institute restrictions based on engine size. These measures have been adopted with good outcomes by other countries such as Colombia. We should explore them.”
The group reported an increase in motorcycle-related robberies and killings.
It cited Sandra Risden, a paralegal, who was killed in rush hour traffic as the most recent incident.
According to JAMBAR, extending the sentences of murderers is ineffective if it doesn’t affect their ability to carry out their illegal activities from behind prison bars.
“Increased random searches of lockups and prison cells and investing and deploying crime-fighting technology through cameras and other monitoring devices would address this recurring issue in our prisons and lockups. This may also help to reassure potential witnesses and prevent crime,” JAMBAR noted.
According to JAMBAR, prioritizing the provision of extra resources for a more comprehensive camera network and enhancing Jamaica Eye’s data storage and archiving capabilities is also recommended.
Other projects that should be investigated, according to the report, including maintaining and growing investments in the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s investigative capabilities and modernizing the Police Training College to provide degrees in criminal justice and crime fighting.
