PNPYO wants Stay Alert App reinstated amid public safety concerns

In expressing alarm at the disappearance of 20-year-old University of Technology (UTech) student, Anisa Dilworth, the People’s National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO) is calling for the Government to reinstate and modernise its Stay Alert App as a means of boosting the safety of Jamaicans and allowing law enforcement to be alerted quickly to emergencies.

The Stay Alert App was introduced free of cost to the public in 2013 and carried a panic button feature that could be set off whenever someone is in danger.

Law enforcement personnel would then be able to track the whereabouts of the person who triggered the panic button.

“In this digital age, there is no excuse for ignoring the life-saving power of technology,” the PNPYO said in a statement.

Dilworth, a first-year pharmaceutical student, went missing last Tuesday.

A driver with ride-sharing service inDrive has been taken into custody and is facing questioning as the police probe her disappearance.

Head of the St Andrew Central Police Division, Superintendent Mark Harris, told The Gleaner yesterday that the ride-share driver was taken into custody on Saturday.

But no charges have been laid against him as he continues to face questions from investigators.

“We have a man in custody, we have a car, and we are pursuing another person we believe can assist us with the investigation,” Harris said.

However, he did not disclose further information on the individual being sought.

While commending the work of the police, the PNPYO expressed concerns over the rise in these incidents, describing them as “symptoms of a deepening national crisis.”

“This attack on our nation’s women and girls is happening far too frequently. It demands more than just a “nine-day wonder” or polished speeches from those in positions of power. Jamaica needs to wake up. We need bold action - legislative reform, strengthened security systems, and a clear signal that we will not tolerate these atrocities,” it said.

The youth arm of the Opposition also implored Jamaicans to be vigilant in protecting themselves and their communities against these criminals.

“Let us not wait until tragedy knocks on our own doors to take action. Silence, inaction, and broken promises will only bring more headlines like these. If we are serious about creating a Jamaica where women and girls feel safe and empowered, then we must move beyond talk - we must act,” it said.

-Sashana Small

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