MONTEGO BAY, St James — Despite the decrease in murders up to the end of February, stakeholders in St James say they are still concerned.

Up to February 28 this year the parish of St James had seen a decrease of 20 murders, compared to same period last year.

The parish has so far recorded 26 murders, compared to 43 for the corresponding period in 2022. The country overall has also recorded a decrease in murders this year, with 188 recorded so far, compared to 248 last year.

However, at both time periods the parish had the unenviable title as the leading police division in terms of murders committed, according to statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

St James went on to register some 198 murders throughout the course of 2022, ending as the parish with the most such recorded murders.

However, despite the continued challenges a number of stakeholders in the space have welcomed the decrease that has so far been recorded this year.

Custos for the parish, Bishop Conrad Pitkin told the Jamaica Observer that the development is a positive one.

“We are looking for the news to be a welcoming one to the people St James on a whole, and it is a positive thing,” Bishop Pitkin said.

He, however, insisted that the decrease should not mean that complacency should be entertained in this regard .

“Any decrease in murders in the parish must be commended, but we cannot be complacent; we would like to see it go down further,” he further

Nadine Spence, western chapter chair for the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), says she is encouraged by the data coming forward.

“We are encouraged with these numbers coming ddown. These are the kinds of data that we like to see because when you actually see what is happening on the ground, you get a little disheartened but when you see the actual data we are encouraged,” she disclosed.

“We would love to see the numbers dwindle but we are very encouraged with what we are seeing so far,” she added.

She explained that Jamaica is too small for the high levels of murders each year and that this has been impacting the local tourism product. She believes that with these improvements more tourists may want to venture out and enjoy more of Jamaica.

“With this kind of data the hoteliers are viewing and they too will feel encouraged about [not only] the safety of their workers but also the visitors that come and may want to visit Jamaica outside of the hotels, she explained.

Despite her optimism there is still some concern on her part for what continues to happen. “I mean, we’re still concerned given over the last few days and stuff like that, so there is still concern,” she pointed out.”

Just this week, there were two murders recorded in Montego Bay. On Monday, security guard Duane Russell was shot and killed by an unknown assailant as he walked in the town. Just later that day Trevaughn Lawson was shot and killed along Railway Lane in the parish about 7:00 pm.

President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, Oral Heaven has lauded the efforts of the men and women in the security forces who have been playing major roles in addressing the situation, leading to the reductions.

“They are working and we see where they are working. And the policing, as we see it now, is different from the policing five, six years ago. The police is very much involved in the community, and that involvement with getting the police to look at the social responsibility is helping with the reduction in crime,” he explained.