AHEAD of his December 8 release from a US prison, reggae star Buju Banton is calling for the return of former crime fighter retired Senior Superintendent of Police Reneto Adams.

He gets his message out in the single Send Back Adams. Released last month, the song is on the Crushroad Music imprint.

In the song, Buju chants: “Send back Adams on the front line, and den yuh woulda see how much gun find.”

Buju Banton also points to political tribalism, undisciplined youth, brain drain, and limited job opportunities as pressing crime factors. He also points to entertainers who have involvement in crime by supplying guns. He urges Jamaicans to take a stand with him as “silence means consent”.

Jamaica has seen a spike in crime in recent times. Last year, more than 1,600 people were murdered an increase of more than 20 per cent over the year before. And since the start of year, more than 200 people have been killed.

A state of public emergency is currently in effect in St James and St Catherine North, which covers areas including Spanish Town, Linstead, and Bog Walk.

Adams, former head of the Crime Management Unit, spent more than 30 years in the Jamaica Constabulary Force before retiring in July 2008. Hailed as a hero in some communities, he was involved in several high-profile incidents.

Several petitions, including one started in January by Change.org, were launched for the job of police commissioner to be given to Adams. Two weeks into the petition, it had garnered 3,860 signatures out of a target of 5,000. Despite their best effort, Major General Antony Anderson was appointed as the 30th commissioner of police on Monday.

Buju Banton (given name Mark Myrie) is a Grammy-winning deejay. He is currently completing a nine-year sentence at the McRae Correctional Facility in Georgia. He was convicted on drug charges in 2009.

He is known for songs including Til’ Shiloh, Make My Day and Driver A.

Buju Banton’s Before the Dawn album was announced as the winner of Best Reggae Album in February 2011.