MONTEGO BAY, St James — Not satisfied with the target of fewer than 1,000 murders each year, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck wants to see that number fall below 100.

“That is something to be proud of, that we are reducing the murder by 44.2 per cent up to today. But that is not enough,” the justice minister said Wednesday during a Justices of the Peace Sensitisation Session at Iberostar, Rose Hall in St James.

“Far too many people now believe that under 1,000 murders is a great thing. I don’t think so! It is good, but… I hope, in my lifetime, to see murders below 100 per year. And we can get there,” Chuck said.

He noted that Jamaicans should take pride in the progress made, with 309 murders recorded across the country up to Tuesday — 245 fewer than the 554 reported during the same period last year.

The justice minister also lauded members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force for their effort in the falling murder figures across the island.

“Here in St James, in fact all of western Jamaica, we have seen significant decline in murders and crime generally, and we must applaud St James and the police in St James and in western Jamaica for the tremendous job that is being done. In St James, up to yesterday, there have been 24 murders, which is 49 less than 73 at the same time last year,” he said.

Chuck also praised the police for their success in dismantling gangs, aided by citizen cooperation, technology, and intelligence. He said many murders stem from cycles of revenge, but increased police intervention is now helping to prevent and quickly respond to such incidents.

“The gangs, when they fight, they know who they go out to kill; but when they kill innocent people, they consider it collateral damage. They don’t care. And that is why the police have done a tremendous job in neutralising and dismantling the gangs. And as the prime minister and the minister of national security have said, your chance of getting away now is very slim when you engage in gang warfare. Because the police, to their credit, they’re getting intelligence by working with citizens, by using technology and many other things that they’re able now to prevent murders. And when the murders are committed, they stop it, because in the past, and even now, more than close to half of the murders committed are because of revenge and retaliation,” he said.

The justice minister argued that hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans overseas would like to return home but remain fearful due to crime. He stressed that if crime is brought under control, many would come back to enjoy Jamaica’s beauty, climate, and quality of life.

Chuck urged justices of the peace to work closely with the police and other stakeholders to help reduce not just gang violence, but also family and community conflicts. He expressed hope that murders could fall below 800 in 2025, ideally under 600, stressing that lowering crime benefits all Jamaicans and is key to the country’s progress.