KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) says the business sector is in the process of forging a national consensus to develop a credible strategic plan to tackle crime in Jamaica.

JCC President, Larry Watson, speaking at a Board of Directors meeting this afternoon, said the consensus being forged with the Government, Opposition, civil society and security experts, seeks to transform Jamaica to a safe and secure society, specifically reducing the present 58 murders per 100,000 population to no more than 18 per 100,000 by 2025.

“In addition to a tangible transformation plan are the intangibles of agreement on the buy-in on the way forward and commitment to implement the agreed actions.

“Key performance indicators (KPI’s) will be agreed and it is expected that an EPOC-type model of public-private oversight will be employed,” he expressed, adding that the JCC will also encourage citizens to engage in the process.

Watson suggested that the country could be benefitting form an additional four per cent each year if crime is contained.

Noting areas of lawlessness that must be addressed, the JCC president highlighted the rampant breaches of road traffic laws.

“No civilised country can have drivers who accumulate hundreds of traffic tickets not pay the fines and yet be still free to cause mayhem on our roads,” he said.

He further pointed to the thousands of unregistered businesses operating in Jamaica and the high level of corruption in society.

“If the laws are too weak to function as a deterrent to corrupt practices let’s change the laws but until then let’s make the sanctions more severe,” Watson said.

He expressed that the JCC will support moves to ensure laws are enforced and endorse measures that deter corruption.

The Government has, in recent times, made amendments to the Road Traffic Act and passed other legislation to tackle crime, including the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) legislation.

Its latest attempt at arresting the crime monster is the declaration of the state of public emergency in St James, which recorded some 335 murders last year, most tied to gang violence and lottery scam.