Letter of the Day | Tackling crime and violence should be the priority

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing with reference to the article, ‘Golding fires back at PM’s dismissal of PNP housing plan,’ published in The Gleaner on April 29. Housing plan should be a non-issue in the 2025 general election.

There can be a good housing plan, but construction projects have many factors that can cause delays and many times the factors are beyond the control of the home builders.

Following the 1951 Hurricane Charlie hitting Jamaica, the JLP and PNP governments did not fulfil all their housing promises to the people. While they established the Hurricane Housing Organisation, it didn’t immediately result in getting houses for all those affected.

Therefore, which of the two main political leaders has the knowledge, skills and abilities to declare now that they will deliver 6,000 houses before they demit office?

The leaders need to state their plans about the issues that matter the most to the people, which will improve the development of the economy. Cause less crime and violence; more security and prosperity. For example, a reduction or increase in homicides.

Jamaica had its lowest homicide rate (-18. 7 per cent) in decade in 2024. However, at 40.1 per 100,000 people, it remains a deadly country. The 18.7 per cent decrease in Jamaica’s homicide rate is in part driven by by a drop in gang-related murders, which accounted for 67 per cent of cases in 2023 but fell to 60 per cent in 2024.

Jamaica has invested significantly in improving the capacity of the law enforcement officers to detect crimes and gather intelligence, which may be contributing to the decline in gangs and homicides.

The government declared at least three states of emergency in 2024 due to gang-related violence. However, it is unlikely that this measure had a direct impact on homicide rates, as the frequent use of states of emergency in the past has not ‘prevented’ from continuing to struggle with persistently high murder rates.

According to Office of the Prime Minister post on March 10, Prime Minister Holness, stated, “My administration has invested unprecedented levels of funding in the JCF, averaging $9.7 billion annually. This is three times the amount expended by previous administrations.”

The Jamaican government’s spending on crime and violence prevention in 2024 involved significant investments, particularly in Citizen Security and Justice Programme III, with “over 1 billion” allocated for targeted community activities. While a precise total spending figure isn’t readily available for 2024, the Government’s commitment to tackling crime and violence is evidence through its allocation of resources and ongoing effort.

CARGILL KELLY