MONTEGO BAY, St James — United States Ambassador to Jamaica N Nick Perry says he is grief-stricken by the destruction that crime and violence have caused in the Kingston communities where he was born and raised.

Seventy-two-year-old Perry, who migrated to the US in 1971, is the first-ever Jamaican-born individual to serve as America’s top diplomat to the Caribbean country.

“I was born in Jamaica in Kingston. I grew up in Rose Town and Whitfield Town. Since I’ve been back I’ve driven through those neighbourhoods and it hurts my heart. The house I used to live in… there are no houses there on that street anymore. And I learned that place was devastated by crime — criminal activity, fights between young people, shooting, killing each other over simple little disagreements that turn into death and violence,” Perry said at a Local Partner Development (LPD) youth awards ceremony at Jewel Grande Resort in Montego Bay on Monday afternoon.

Perry urged the nearly 90 participants who received awards through the USAID-funded LPD youth crime and violence prevention programme to steer clear of crime and violence.

“I look at you and I see myself in the audience in a lot of ways,” he told the youngsters, adding that any of them could achieve success — as he has — by simply choosing good over evil.

“No one would have believed if I told them, when I was walking on Maxfield Avenue or Lamont Lane or Whitfield Avenue, that one day I would be the ambassador of the United States of America, sent back to Jamaica to represent the people of America and the president of the United States. Can you imagine yourself in a position like that as you grow older?” he asked rhetorically.

However, as Perry himself has noted, the Jamaica he grew up in is very different from the one that exists today.

As in other countries, Jamaican officials have consistently pointed to the influx of illegal guns from the US as a major contributing factor to the rampant crime and violence plaguing their shores.

Jamaica is among a group of countries that recently joined Mexico in a US$10-billion suit to hold US gun manufacturers liable for the harm caused by their products. The issue was discussed at the inaugural summit on regional security currently under way in Trinidad and Tobago, where Prime Minister Andrew Holness is among the participants.

For now, Perry has applauded the “ambitious young men and women” who are thriving despite the challenges faced. On Monday he lauded those who have participated in various USAID, LPD interventions over the past two years.

“LPD, as many of you already know, is a US$16-million, six-year activity designed to build partnerships with private sector and Government to implement and sustain effective crime prevention initiatives here in Jamaica,” he explained.

“I am pleased to know that because of USAID’s investments and partnership over 650 youths, including all of you here today, are now more resilient in avoiding crime and violence than you were two years or so ago,” Perry added.

Participants were trained in various vocational skills such as customer service, food and beverage, electrical installation. They also received psychosocial and mentorship support.

“I’m told that up to 109 of you were placed in apprenticeship, internships, and jobs with local employers. And 140 of you received products and other support to start or improve your own micro businesses,” the ambassador noted.

“This is one example of how the United States Government, through USAID, is helping Jamaican youth to reach their true potential, your true potential. We are proud to support initiatives like the Local Partner Development activity that specifically targets youth — and we do so because yes, you are the future,” he added.

Ambassador Perry also expressed gratitude to all those who supported youth participants “on their journey”.

“Whether you provided services, mentorship, or jobs, your support has not gone unnoticed. Your support has not and will not be in vain. And it’s up to you to make sure of that. On behalf of the United States Government I would like to thank you all for coming out today to celebrate with these young Jamaican men and women and let us, together, continue to support them,” he said.