MAYBE it was because the news release was issued on November 6, 2024 — the day after the arresting United States presidential election — or perhaps because the population has been so befuddled by the daily homicides, that news of a significant drop in major crimes just seemed to have gone unnoticed.

The Government reported that big strides are being made in combating gun violence, gang-related activities, and other major crimes. Of course, once the information is coming from official sources, people’s cynicism tends to kick in.

But of a truth, the figures in the missive dispatched by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), the official State information arm, look impressive:

Between January 2024 and November 2024 major crimes, we are told, have decreased by 15 per cent, broken down as follows — murders down by 19 per cent, with 233 fewer lives lost; shootings by nine per cent; rapes by 28 per cent; and robberies by 21 per cent.

“Significant reductions have also been recorded in hot spot areas, with St James seeing a 32 per cent decrease in murders, followed by Clarendon at 39 per cent, and Kingston West at 30 per cent,” the agency reported.

Even if it doesn’t ring true, in the face of the constant bloodshed we are constrained to accept these numbers as legit — if for no other reason than that they were taken to Cabinet by the high command of Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) who were invited there “to receive policy guidance and provide updates on their activities”.

JCF assured the Andrew Holness Cabinet that our lawmen and women have intensified their anti-gang strategy, conducting more than 2,750 anti-gang operations in 2024 and, in addition, removed 667 illegal firearms from Jamaica’s streets, with 383 seized directly from suspects.

Showing that he was satisfied with the veracity of the figures supplied by the high command, Prime Minister Holness was elated:

“Our national security investment and intelligence-led approach targets key figures in gang violence, leading to the substantial declines in gang activities and major crimes. Since taking office in 2016 we have been proactively treating with the national crime problem with targeted operations, legislative reforms, operational improvements and partnerships.

“The success we are witnessing today is a direct result of my Administration’s commitment to safeguarding the lives of all Jamaicans and deliberately dismantling the structures that enable gang violence,” he trumpeted.

We can certainly see why the prime minister would be so upbeat. However, we are drawn to the more meaningful acknowledgement by his National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang of a point we have been making ad nauseum in this space, that the ultimate enterprise for defeating the scourge of crime must be in the unity of the Jamaican people.

“We need every citizen’s support. Share any information that could help solve these cases and keep your community safe. Together, we can create a nation where crime has no place. It is important that you take a stand and report any suspicious activity. Our strength lies in our unity, and we must work together to ensure a secure and peaceful Jamaica for generations to come,” says Dr Chang.

We need not belabour the point, except to add that until our politicians move to actually unite the people against crime, the good news will be fleeting.