'Jamaica's existence under threat'

Special Representative of the World Bank, Badrul Haque has called for Jamaicans to unite against crime and violence, saying the country's very existence is at risk.

"Jamaica is at a serious crossroad where crime and violence is concerned ... . The issues here are life and death for everyone and Jamaicans must unite to address this threat to the country's existence," Haque disclosed.

The World Bank special representative, who was speaking last week at the launch of the Jamaica Crime and Violence Prevention Programme, at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston, noted that the recent unrest in sections of the capital has shown that no one in Jamaica is immune to the crime monster.

No one spared

"Events of the last two and a half weeks have shown just how crime and violence affects all of us at the national level and community level; rich and poor, young and old, uptown and downtown ... local residents and foreigners living here as well as Jamaicans in the diaspora," he said.

Haque added that the unrest - which had its roots in the Tivoli Gardens enclave and quickly spread to sections of the Corporate Area - made it clear that the problem of crime and violence, at the level of even one community, means problem for "all of us".

"The costs of these disruptions and losses are enormous ... . Jamaica cannot afford to continue like this," the World Bank special representative stated. Pointing to the successes of the Jamaica Debt Exchange programme launched in January, he said out of the current challenges can come opportunities and urged Jamaicans to seize the opportunity.

"The flip side of a problem is opportunity. Earlier this year, faced with a mounting debt crisis, Jamaicans came together to ensure the success of the debt exchange ... surely it is possible to do the same in addressing crime and violence," Haque noted.