ZOSO evaluation to begin in July 2026 as Jamaica weighs zones of peace model

Jamaica is to begin a comprehensive review of its Zones of Special Operations in July 2026, as the Government assesses whether the security measure should be reshaped into a broader community development model. National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang gave the update in the House of Representatives, where members approved a further 180-day extension of the ZOSOs.

The zones have been in use for close to a decade, beginning with Mount Salem in St James after a September 17 declaration. Since then, six other communities have been placed under the framework, which was introduced to reduce crime while supporting residents.

Chang told the House the Government is working towards what he described as “zones of peace and opportunity”, saying the aim is to move beyond enforcement and make peace “embedded, sustained and driven by opportunity created in those communities”.

The minister said the planned study will provide the data needed to guide that transition and help determine which parts of the existing programme should be expanded. The review is expected to be supported by grant funding from the Inter-American Development Bank.

According to Chang, the research will examine the financial costs and benefits of the zones, as well as their social and environmental effects. It will also seek to identify and rank the initiatives that offer the strongest social value, so resources can be focused on interventions with the greatest potential for economic and community transformation.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding said he supported the assessment, but questioned whether the zones still appear useful in their current form. He said areas such as August Town and Denham Town often show little more than a small checkpoint, rather than a strong security presence.

Golding also called for a ministerial statement and a fuller debate on ZOSOs, noting that the legal framework curtails some rights while expanding the powers of law enforcement. He said Parliament should hear when the mechanism may be withdrawn from the affected communities and what wider approach could replace it in areas needing similar attention.

The extensions cover Mount Salem in St James; Parade Gardens and Denham Town in Kingston; August Town, Greenwich Town and Norwood; and Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland.