KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness says murders have declined for three consecutive years under the leadership of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

He was speaking at a recent JLP meeting in St Mary Western to recognise the contributions of long-standing party workers.

“There is no other government in the history of Jamaica that can face the people on a platform of achievements. There are people who are reluctant to admit it, there are partisan people who will try to spin it in all kinds of ways but no one can question that an intractable problem of murders and serious crime has been cut not one year or two years— for three consecutive years this government has reduced murders and serious crimes, putting us firmly on the pathways to peace,” Holness said.

“In 2023, we reduced the murder rate by 7.5 per cent, almost eight per cent. In 2024, we reduced the murder rate by 19 point odd per cent, almost 20 per cent. In 2025, we are now 44 per cent down. Half of the year almost gone. We have put the country on a solid trajectory. All who don’t want to admit that is badmind. [We have] profoundly changed the life of this country, and if we continue on this trajectory, it’s a new Jamaica that will emerge,” Holness continued.

He also praised the economic achievements of his administration.

“There is no question that we have improved the economy and there is more to come. We have also made the economy more resilient,” Holness said, adding that the country was able to bounce back well from economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prime minister also pointed to an increase in the minimum wage and a reduction in the country’s unemployment and poverty rates.

“Now we must focus on using the dividends of those achievements to make your local economy and your household economy, of which you are the minister of finance, realise these dreams that you have. So we have allocated $45 billion under the SPARK programme and we are allocating $10 billion this year for water. And right here in your constituency…five water projects of $500 million, that will change the lives of several communities in addition to those that I have done already,” Holness explained.

The prime minister further charged JLP supporters not to engage in a negative election campaign but to be assertive in highlighting the achievements of the party.