Dear Editor,

Norwood, a community once plagued by crime and violence, has gone a full year without a single murder!

This extraordinary achievement is a symbol of resilience and hope for a place that has known too much loss.

For those of us who have lived through the fear and grief, this milestone feels like a long-awaited victory.

Norwood’s success is not isolated: St James, a parish once devastated by crime, has seen remarkable improvements. Just one murder in an entire month speaks volumes about the progress we are making.

When I shared the news of this remarkable achievement for the month of May 2025, a friend responded to my Instagram story saying: “My goodness… St James?? Where Flankers, Rose Heights, etc?” It’s a testament to how far we’ve come that such a response would even be considered a surprise.

This progress is the result of hard work, strategic leadership, and deep commitment.

I thank the security forces for their professionalism and dedication in restoring peace to our communities. Their presence and efforts have been instrumental in bringing us to this point.

I must also commend the Government, particularly Dr Horace Chang, the minister of national security and Member of Parliament for St James North Western. His leadership has been crucial in transforming our community. Through the Plan Secure Jamaica initiative, Dr Chang’s focus on strengthening our national security, investing in community-based policing, and disrupting criminal networks is yielding real results.

Most importantly, I salute the people of St James, mothers, fathers, children, and community leaders, who have united to create and sustain change.

There is more work to be done, but today we stand proudly on a path to healing, with a safer and more hopeful future ahead.

Sujae Boswell

sujaeboswell@gmail.com