MONTEGO BAY, St James — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has reiterated his Administration’s commitment to human rights, while making it clear that the security forces will not back down from pursuing those who break the law.

“Our place in the world is as a liberal democracy that respects human rights and that has been, without ambiguity, expressed to our security forces. What I am particularly heartened by is that the leadership of the security forces understand this point. Therefore we are going to pursue the criminals relentlessly but we are going to respect their human rights,” the prime minister assured.

He was addressing last Saturday night’s St James East Central Education Council fundraising dinner, hosted by Member of Parliament Edmund Bartlett at Iberostar Hotel in St James.

Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang recently lauded the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for achieving a 36 per cent reduction in murders this year compared to the same period in 2024. The prime minister noted that this impressive performance came as a result of strategic actions taken over the last nine years.

However, concerns over police conduct continue to grow. Human rights group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) last week staged a demonstration in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, protesting alleged extrajudicial killings by police. Reports indicate that 111 individuals were fatally shot in confrontations with the security forces during the first four months of this year — representing a more than 140 per cent increase over the same period last year.

During his address Holness urged those who champion victims’ rights to be more balanced in their utterances.

“They should know that they should respect the rights of our policemen to go home to their families safe and secure,” the prime minister urged.

He added that the long-term goal of the security strategy is for a peaceful country.

“Those people who are only concerned about criminals and not the victims, we are not going to allow you to win; we are going to push hard. But we are very mindful that the brand of Jamaica cannot be associated with extrajudicial or unlawful killings,” Holness insisted.

Noting that negative United States travel advisories are a result of criminals’ actions creating false narratives about violence in Jamaica, he expressed confidence that the country has the potential to attract much more than the number of visitors welcomed last year.

“It is our destiny to be a peaceful and safe place. …we are celebrating [Tourism] Minister Bartlett’s four million visitors [but] that’s not our potential; we are underperforming. We should be having 10 and 15 million people coming to visit our shores, in our hotels, stay in our Airbnbs, visit our communities. We are not utilising our potential because the 1,000 or so criminals have held us hostage,” Holness said.

“I use this platform to say to all the criminals, all the people who consider themselves ‘shottas’, who believe that they can commit crime and you won’t be found out, we know you; We are going to find you. And I believe they are getting the message,” added Holness.

The prime minister insisted that law breakers will have nowhere to hide, within or beyond the country’s borders.

“Every murder that is committed, we are going to find the person who pulled that trigger. I want that message go out to every little shotta, every little gunman, every little don who thinks that he is anonymous or that communities are going to hide him. Forget it! You think you going to go across the border to the US? No! We have made very strong strategic relations with our partners internationally. We will find you wherever you are,” he said.

“So we are not going to relent, we are going to continue to push and we are going to drive this murder rate right below regional average,” Holness added.

The prime minister told those gathered that the ruling Jamaica Labour Party has a strong and solid claim to a third term in office, emphasising that the Government’s renewed focus is on driving productivity and securing peace as part of its pivot to growth.