What was for a long time one of Jamaica’s most politically volatile constituencies, Kingston Central, which saw up to 50 murders per year, has recorded just four homicides since the start of 2026, Member of Parliament (MP) Donovan Williams has shared.

Williams, a second-term Jamaica Labour Party Government MP, spoke to the issue in the House of Representatives on Tuesday during his contribution to the 2026/27 State of the Constituency Debate.

“Major crimes are down, gang conflicts have plummeted, our murder rate is the lowest it has been when compared to previous years,” said Williams.

He pointed to the introduction of a zone of special operations (ZOSO) in the Parade Gardens community, noting that it has had an immediate impact.

“There was a time in Central Kingston when we were experiencing 50 murders per year across both police divisions that serve the constituency.

So far this year we recorded four murders across the entire constituency,” Williams said.

Highlighting that some communities were doing exceptionally well, he singled out Franklyn Town which, for the past two years, has had no murders.

He said that one murder has been recorded in the Allman Town community, one in Parade Gardens, and two in Rose Gardens.

The Rae Town community recorded a single murder in 2025 and none in 2026.

Williams’ report was specific to the constituency as Jamaica Constabulary Force data show that the Central Kingston Police Division, which expands beyond the riding, has reported eight murders so far this year, compared to 15 over the same period last year.

Williams told the Parliament that other major crimes have also plummeted.

“We still have some issues, we are working through them, but for the most part, we are doing exceptionally well,” he noted.

Our churches are open; our parties are in full swing.

Nightlife has returned to Central Kingston.

Our children are playing in the parks and in the streets and we intend to keep it that way,” he added.

“This is not the Central Kingston that we are accustomed to, this is not the Central Kingston I came and saw in September 2020,” Williams gushed.

He acknowledged the leadership of National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang, Commanding Officer Mishka Forbes of the Kingston Central Police Division, Commanding Officer Michelle Campbell of the East Kingston Police Division, and their predecessors who, he said, helped to lay the foundation of peace which now exists.

Williams also acknowledged the civic organisations that are playing their part in community engagement and peace initiatives such as Yard Empire, Social Development Commission, Project Star, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a UNESCOaffiliated non-governmental organisation, as well as the churches.

On the matter of the ZOSO, the two-term MP said the Jamaica Social Investment Fund has advised that an integrated infrastructural development plan has now been crafted for the zone and submitted to the Ministry of Finance for approval by the Public Investment Appraisal Branch (PIAB).

Williams said he was optimistic that the PIAB will approve the plan, especially given that the joint command has recommended the zone enters its build phase.