HomeBreaking NewsA New Name for S.O.E. 

A New Name for S.O.E. 

A New Name for S.O.E.

A New Name for S.O.E. 

Prime Minister John Briceño is considering renaming the “State of Emergency” (SOE) to better reflect its purpose against gang violence. In this morning’s appearance on Open Your Eyes, Briceño likened the measure to a “time-out,” a strategy used by parents to manage children’s behaviour.

“Sometimes you need a time out… At home, when you and your brother are fighting, what does a parent do? They’re like, ‘Okay, you go to your room.’ That same analogy works in the streets,” Briceño explained, adding, “I hate the words ‘state of emergency’ because it is not the entire state—the entire country, but rather some sections.”

Briceño stated that he has been in discussions with Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa and said they are exploring alternative terminology for SOEs, which are enacted in high-crime areas. “This is a temporary solution for things to calm down,” Briceño stated. He said that it is not a “band-aid” but a necessary step to bring relief to communities while longer-term solutions are developed.

“It is not fair to the people in these neighbourhoods who are good, decent, hard-working, law-abiding citizens who live in fear of these guys when they start out shooting. And then they shoot, and in many instances innocent people get hurt,” he said.

“If that is the only way that we can have peace on the streets, then we are going to do it,” Briceño added.

While SOEs have helped lower the murder rate, they also come with concerns about rights violations, especially for those who are suspected of gang activity. Despite this, Police Commissioner Chester Williams reported in September that SOEs have contributed to a noticeable decrease in crime.

 

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