LASCO Chin Foundation tackles poverty, crime

Recent reports of the reduction in murders in Jamaica (about 300 fewer than last year), while encouraging, provide no reason to think the country has turned the corner on crime, noted Professor Rosalea Hamilton, chief executive officer of the newly established LASCO Chin Foundation.

The reduction represents about a 22 per cent decline in murders, which means that the country's murder rate has declined from about 58 per 100,000 in 2017 to about 45 per 100,000 so far in 2018. Unfortunately, at this lower rate, Jamaica continues to be ranked in the top 10 most murderous countries in the world, she noted.

"To break the cycle of criminality, we need individualised, long-term, comprehensive interventions that target and hand-hold the youth in troubled communities where they are most at risk of exposure to crime and the criminal justice system," Hamilton stated.

"Our vision is to change the way Jamaica views and treats its most vulnerable young people, so that in the future all of Jamaica's young people will be empowered and have access to high quality capacity-building solutions, as well as skilled and caring adults who are willing and able to support their efforts to succeed in life, generally, and business, in particular."