Major crimes at lowest levels in 24 years, says Holness
Prime Minister Andrew Holness is reporting that Jamaica is seeing its lowest levels of major crimes in nearly a quarter century.
“The multi-faceted approach taken by the Government including social transformational initiatives, strategic investments in technology and infrastructure, and legislative changes, is paying dividends with a sharp reduction in major crimes, the country’s lowest crime rate in 24 years,” Holness said Tuesday as he made his contribution to the 2024/25 Budget Debate.
He said Jamaica recorded a 10 per cent reduction in major crimes (murders, shootings, rapes, robberies, aggravated assault, and break-ins) in 2023 when compared to 2022 and this downward trend has continued in 2024.
“Notably, the number of active gangs in Jamaica decreased by approximately 36 per cent in 2023, to an estimated 176 active gangs, down from an estimated 276 known gangs in 2018,” said Holness.
He lauded former Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson, stating that he can claim meaningful progress and success in the transformation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), in organisational leadership, structure, doctrine and culture, infrastructure and technology, and in operational strategy and tactics.
“We are now beginning to see the positive impact of the transformed JCF as a Force for Good,” he said.
The prime minister expressed the Government’s appreciation and commendation to Anderson “for a career of effective leadership and sterling service to Jamaica’s national security. I also welcome Dr Kevin Blake, our new Commissioner, and task him to continue the transformation of the JCF”.
Meanwhile, Holness said the government continues to invest significantly in the transformation of the JCF, including the recruitment and training of over 2,000 officers.
The government is also doing the following:
-Procuring an additional 280 cameras to be installed in downtown Kingston under the Jamaica Eye Programme.
-Investing approximately $650 million in the JCF’s mobile radio network and microwave data network to improve its communications infrastructure, increasing island-wide coverage from 67 per cent to 90 per cent by 2028.
-The upgrade and renewal of the JCF’s fleet with the procurement of over 1600 motor vehicles to date.
-Twenty-nine police fatalities to be renovated this fiscal year with investments amounting to approximately $460 million under the project (ROC) initiative, which is aimed at converting all police stations into modern, citizen-friendly workplaces.
-Will start construction of the St Catherine North Police Station and the Westmoreland Divisional headquarters for which ground was broken last Friday.
