MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for Portland Western Daryl Vaz says the recent increase in crime in Portland is being fuelled by outsiders who have sought to create mischief in the once-peaceful parish.

According to statistics from Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Portland recorded five murders from January 1 to March 8 this year — a 150 per cent increase when compared to the two murders recorded for the same period last year. Three shootings have also been recorded since the start of the year, up from one last year. One incident of rape was recorded, while break-ins and robberies saw a decline.

The latest reported murder in the parish was the killing of a fruit vendor last week Tuesday, near Lighthouse Road in Port Antonio. The vendor was reportedly shot dead by the occupant of a Mark X motor car, who fled the scene in the vehicle.

“I am very concerned and very upset in relation to the upsurge in crime in Portland. We are not accustomed to drive-by shootings, and we have had two in the last few days. We are not accustomed to that,” Vaz told supporters of the Jamaica Labour Party at an Area Council Two leadership meeting on Sunday in Portland Western. “We have been accustomed to being the safest parish for decades, and we have lost that position.”

He went on to commend Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang on the work being done, “because we had the lowest rate in murders in February in 25 years”.

“But I want to ask you the questions: What has changed in Portland in recent months?” Vaz quizzed, adding that he’s been the MP from 2007 to 2025, “and everything remained calm”.

“My wife [Ann-Marie Vaz] has been there [as Portland Eastern MP] from 2019 — six years to 2025. We have seen an influx of importees and deportees, and I am calling on the police high command… and the minister of national security: ‘Flush them out and flush them out quick!’

“No matter who they are or who they represent, we are not going to tolerate it. And I can tell you that I will be on it from now until we restore Portland to its original state of peace and safety,” Vaz insisted.

Last year Jamaica recorded 1,138 murders up to December 28. The figures were 259 fewer than the 1,397 recorded for the corresponding period the year prior. Of the 14 parishes, Portland recorded the least number of homicides — with 13.

Also commenting on the issue of crime in Portland, Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Western Everald Warmington said it is something the parish is not accustomed to seeing. He seemingly accused the People’s National Party (PNP) of inciting violence in the parish.

“I don’t care who like when I talk, but I talk the truth… When PNP is in power, violence is held at a level or go down. When [Jamaica] Labour Party in power, violence peaks…do you think that’s a coincidence? No, it is not! It is not!

“It is an orchestrated thing by them, because without violence being up there, they can’t win. And now that violence is decreasing… [they] out there chatting nonsense,” quipped Warmington.

He went on to say that “the deportees that come here, them come with the violence, so we must face facts and say it as it is, that they are the perpetrators of violence once JLP is in power.

“The PNP cyaan tell me seh a nuh so it go, okay? When dem in power we nuh do that — but that’s them. But with that or not, they can’t win at all. It will be third term regardless what they do,” he insisted, expressing confidence that Vaz and his wife will retain their seats through victory in the upcoming general election.

While a date for the election has not yet been set, Jamaicans are constitutionally due to cast their votes at the polls by September of this year.

The PNP has confirmed attorney Isat Buchanan as its standard-bearer for Portland Eastern.

Portland has recorded five murders so far this year, three more than it did for the same period last year.

WARMINGTON…I don’t care who like when I talk, but I talk the truth… When PNP is in power, violence is held at a level or go down

VAZ… No matter who they are or who they represent, we are not going to tolerate it (Photo: Garfield Robinson)