Government Resolute in Dealing with Crime Problem

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is assuring the nation that the Government remains resolute in dealing with the crime problem including murders.

The Prime Minister’s assurance comes after the brazen killing of four Jamaicans in Kitson Town, St. Catherine who were among nine shot by gunmen and the killing of persons in Kingston including an employee of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority.

Mr Holness said that while the Government has increased resources to law enforcement, the only way for Jamaica to see consistent reductions in crime is for a partnership between all Jamaicans and the State.

“Crime impacts all of us and even in the Kitson Town case our Minister of Culture Olivia Grange lost members of her family. We grieve with her and all Jamaicans who have lost loved ones. The Government will continue to build out the intelligence and investigative capabilities. We are seeing progress in many areas, but we cannot relent,” said Prime Minister Holness.

The Prime Minister added that recent convictions demonstrate that there is an improvement in the work of the police.

“We now have cases before the Court against dozens of gangs, an unprecedented development. We just saw the conviction of one of the most notorious gangsters in Spanish Town and one of his cronies is before the Courts,” said the Prime Minister. 

While there are challenges in the fight against crime, Prime Minister Holness asserted that better days are ahead.