MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Minister of Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has called on Jamaicans to ensure that this election year is a peaceful one, as he expressed concern that violence is being normalised in the society.

“Ladies and gentlemen, murder is an abnormal activity. Human life is precious. We must protect human life, but nowadays it is just as if a so it go, it can’t be like that ladies and gentlemen.

“We have to pull together and make sure that we support the police. We [need to] support one another in bringing about less crime and violence in our society,” he told his audience Sunday at the annual Manchester custos church service in Mandeville.

Statistics from the police show that the country recorded a 19 per cent reduction in murders last year when compared to 2023. However, Manchester was among the divisions with an increase in murders.

“Last year Manchester didn’t do that well. You had 50 murders [and] in 2023 you had 44. To the best of my knowledge, so far [this year] you have had none in Manchester. I beg you Manchester keep it that way,” Chuck said.

“We hope the target will be much less than 50 or 20. I see St James that had 63 fewer murders last year. Their target now is to have less than 100 murders,” he added.

In the first 11 days of this year the police reported 34 murders across the island, an almost 31 per cent increase over the same period in 2024. However, major crimes are down 23 per cent when compared to last year.

Chuck urged Jamaicans to ensure 2025 is a peaceful year as he pointed to the expected political heat ahead of the next parliamentary election due by September.

“When you see us in Parliament we brush shoulders with one another, it is only when we get inside we start abusing one another verbally, but fortunately in this country we don’t start fighting,” said Chuck.

“In many parliaments they throw chairs at one another, so we are not doing too badly,” he added, evoking laughter among his audience.

“We [parliamentarians] must still send a message that when we argue with one another we are not fighting and we don’t expect our supporters to fight in any way. This year is an election year and I want it to be the most peaceful election ever,” declared Chuck.