Dear Editor,

No one should take comfort from the slight reduction in murders reported by the latest police statistics (May 26) — the daily deadly toll coming down from four a day to 3.8.

Study of the breakdown discloses a single reason: 70 fewer killed in St James. As welcome as this is, especially for residents of St James, conversely for the rest of Jamaica, other numbers are just as unwelcome.

The three parishes of Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine recorded a 25.4 per cent increase over the similar period last year. And this is after getting a zone of special operations and a limited state of emergency in sections of two of these parishes.

Even in the other 11 parishes, if St James is subtracted, there is an increase of 1.5 per cent over last year.

Yes, this is small. But, on top of the high crime rates of Clarendon and Westmoreland, the ‘silent’, upward creep in St Thomas, Portland and St Mary is cause for concern. Remember how Westmoreland grew from small beginnings? True, it is close to St James, where scamming was rampant, but present-day criminals especially scammers are very mobile.

What is most concerning is the failure of the present Government, like the previous, to make violence and murder the number one national priority. The violence-murder epidemic is all-island, hitting at the country’s economy, at everyone’s safety, and everyone’s pocket. Ending it must be made a national priority, requiring focused commitment of ministries and funding. One-one zone of special operations and state of emergency will not do.

This is the central message of the “murder reduction strategy” set out by nine civil society organisations last Friday, May 25. It deserves vocal public support. It is a call on Prime Minister Andrew Holness for immediate, comprehensive, in-depth preventative action. There can be no excuse for further delay.

Horace Levy

halpeace.levy78@gmail.com