Jamaica: Authorities declare State of Emergency in Clarendon Parish until at least Aug. 28. Enhanced policing powers likely. /update 1

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has issued a State of Emergency (SoE) for Clarendon Parish as of Aug. 14 after eight people were killed and nine others injured in separate gun attacks in the Cherry Tree Lane, Four Paths, Clarendon areas Aug. 11. The SoE will last until at least 14 days and will likely give police enhanced powers to conduct searches without warrants and detain suspects without formal charges.

These measures are in addition to a curfew that is in place in parts of central and southern Clarendon and southern and northern Saint Catherine parishes until at least 10:00 Aug. 16. The area subject to the curfew measures include parts of Western Park Community, Cherry Tree Lane, Havannah Heights, Treadlight, and York Town. During curfew hours, all persons within the abovementioned areas must remain in their respective homes unless specially authorized to leave by the police.

Security forces will likely deploy throughout the affected area, setting up checkpoints and checking the identification of all individuals outside their homes. Localized transport and business disruptions will likely impact the area until the curfew measures are lifted.