PRIME Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Tuesday urged women who know that their male relatives are engaged in criminal activity to help sway them from that life as there is no lasting benefit to illegal enterprise.

“If we see them being pulled into negative influences I appeal to our women: ‘Reach out to them, save them. This is a different Jamaica — let them know that there is an alternative, that there is a bright future,’ ” the prime minister said at a special post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House to recognise women in the public service, particularly those serving in his Cabinet, ahead of International Women’s Day being observed on March 8.

Holness posited that perhaps less than five per cent of males get involved in criminal activity, and asked, “Why should we excuse those who are?”

He also noted that 90 per cent of the perpetrators of crime in Jamaica are males, with 90 per cent of them also being victims of crime.

“With the help of the mothers, sisters, grandmothers, girlfriends and friends, if we can reach out to [those perpetrators of crime] we can save their lives and we can put them on a pathway like the thousands of others who are struggling, who are facing the hardship the same way but have decided that they’re not going to engage in crime,” he told the largely female audience.

Pointing to the fact that Tuesday was being observed as Peace Day, Holness reiterated a warning he has been issuing to criminals intent on subjecting the country to violence.

“If you believe that you’re going to live to enjoy the fruits of crime, you are mistaken,” Holness said while highlighting that his Administration has changed the reward-risk function for crime.

“The message I deliver here today cannot be more serious. I believe we have given sufficient warnings to the criminals,” he added.

“We must change the value system to reward those who choose Jamaica, who choose not to be involved in crime, who choose — despite the hardship — to stay on the path of righteousness. We must reward those people,” he stated.

He urged Jamaicans to “raise our sons who value life over violence, love over hate, and peace over crime”.

“The future of Jamaica depends on the values we instil in our children — and I believe in the power of our women. I believe that if we come together as a nation, if women take a stand for peace and demand better from the men in their lives, we will see a safer, stronger, and more united Jamaica,” the prime minister said.

After his address Holness presented roses to all the women in the room.