KINGSTON, Jamaica—The number of youths aged 15 to 24 years who have been murdered in Jamaica has dropped from 17 per cent in 2024 to 10 per cent so far this year.

In 2023, the figure was 14 per cent.

Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang spoke on the improvement on Tuesday during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate at Gordon House.

He also spoke about improvements in the crime statistics as a result of social interventions.

“I acknowledge that social programmes often take time to reflect in the statistics, but we are already seeing results in some areas — particularly within the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOs),” Chang said.

He urged Jamaicans to remember that “ZOSOs are specially designed, holistic interventions aimed at driving both environmental and human development within communities”.

He cited that “each year, we invest approximately J$2.13 billion in programmes run by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund. When we include supporting programmes, and the cost of security personnel within the zones, that figure is effectively doubled. This decries the notion being put forward by the Opposition that we are not investing in social transformation”.

According to Chang, “This may seem high, but as we look to the future — and our third term — we recognise that this is a cost we cannot afford not to pay”.

He told the Parliament that as the Government moves forward, it will undertake to introduce effective programmes in all 100 vulnerable communities identified across the island.

“We will implement programmes of transformation in all these communities to restore hope and opportunity to Jamaicans who have been oppressed by poverty, crime, and past policy missteps,” he stated.

Chang provided statistics that show that in 2024, the Norwood and August Town ZOSOs recorded zero murders; Mount Salem recorded one murder; and Savanna-la-Mar and Parade Gardens each recorded two murders.

“When we compare communities that were treated under the ZOSO with those that did not receive it, there is a clear and measurable shift in crime outcomes. At the point of each declaration, crime trends in ZOSO areas consistently remain lower than in untreated (non-ZOSO) communities, by approximately 73 per cent,” the security minister said.

He said this divergence reflects the impact and success of coordinated government intervention.

“These results are a direct outcome of integrated efforts across government institutions ― ranging from title distribution, and vocational training through HEART, to infrastructure upgrades like drainage installation, zinc fence removal, parenting workshops, and road improvements,” said Chang.

He added that “through the zones of special operations, lives were not only saved, but transformed”.