MONTEGO BAY, St James – Clergymen across western Jamaica have called on Government for stricter punitive action against violence producers in the new year, as part of efforts to cauterise the country’s worrying crime problem.

“Crime is our biggest problem right now, it affects everybody. Most times the Government only talks, and yes, sometimes what they say are good things, but there is just not much action behind it, so now it’s time for action,” said Reverend Revern Grant, the pastor of the Calvary Gospel Assembly in Pell River, Hanover.

He called for stiffer penalties against individuals found guilty of committing crimes.

“I believe that there should be stricter penalties for persons committing crimes. As long as it can be proven that a person is a threat to community and to others, I don’t believe that he should just get bail like that, because sometimes some on these guys after they get bail, they are the same ones who go out there and create mayhem in the communities and to those people that they hurt before,” he argued.

“Some of these guys who commit the murders must be put away for life. I don’t believe in the plea bargaining thing, a message must be sent to persons thinking of committing crime, that we are serious about fighting crime.”

Stressing the need for harsher penalties for people found guilty of committing crimes, Reverend Grant said the “Government must get back to the drawing board in a bid to impose harsher penalties.”

“I believe that if there are strong measures, then crime will be reduced, we are not going to get it to zero per cent, but I am sure that it will be much less,” he argued.

According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), up to December 12 this year, the country recorded 1,442 murders, 37 more than the corresponding period in 2021.

The western parishes of Westmoreland, Hanover, St James and Trelawny all recorded increases in homicides in 2022 over the previous year.

Bishop Oneil Russell, head of the Savanna-la-Mar-based Ark of the Covenant Holy Trinity Church, agreed that the Government needs to do more in the new year to tackle the country’s crime problem.

He argued that the imposition of states of public emergency (SOEs) and zones of special operations (ZOSOs) will not solve the country’s crime problem.

“I support the SOE, but we need a broader measure,” he stressed.

“There must be job creation, more jobs for the youths and more social intervention programmes, SOE and ZOSO cannot make a serious dent in the reduction of crime.”

“What will happen after the SOE and ZOSO are gone?” he questioned.

Bishop Russell also called for the revamping of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) and the reintroduction of funding for the violence-interruption programme.

“Government agencies such as the Social Development Commission [SDC] must go out in the communities and establish programmes for the youths, get them involved as this will no doubt assist in the crime reduction,” the bishop added.

Russell, like Grant, also stressed the need for Government to tackle poor road conditions and improve water supplies across the western region in the new year.

Head of the Falmouth-based Agape Christian Fellowship Church, Pastor Junior Rutty, believes that there needs to be “a change in the mindset” of the unattached youth, as part of efforts to tackle the country’s crime problem.

“There needs to be a shift in the mindset of the unattached youths, they must be able to see a vision, a transformation… when this happens, it will undoubtedly result in a reduction of crime,” said Rutty, who is also a justice of the peace.