The World Bank estimates that crime is costing Jamaica about 5% of Gross Domestic Product, (GDP) per year, or about $68 billion. Violence prevention as an investment in the economy has long been considered a viable path, however despite $61 billion in national security investment over the past 5 years, more than four times the $14.7 billion spent for the previous five-year period, murder’s continue to rise year on year. This evening we ask if the investment in national security is paying off?
Dr. Deana Ashley executive director of the Violence Pevention Alliance and Dr. Henley Morgan founder and Chairman of Agency for Inner City Renewal, joined the CVM Live Panel Discussion to share on the topic; violence prevention as an investment in the economy.
