Murders plunge - PM happy with reduction in killings but still not satisfied
Published:Wednesday | March 23, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
The police are reporting a massive drop in murders so far this month.
For the first 20 days of March, 37 people were killed across the island, down from 103 in March 2010.
This is part of a 42 per cent reduction in murders so far this year when compared to the corresponding period last year.
According to the latest official figures acquired by The Gleaner, 204 people were murdered up to Sunday, March 20.
That was 150 fewer people killed when compared to the 354 murders reported over the corresponding period last year.
Other crimes down
Most other crimes were also down with 241 shootings this year compared to 392 for January 1-March 20, 2010.
The police data also show a nine per cent reduction in the number of reported rape cases, a 35 per cent reduction in reported carnal abuse cases, with robberies down one per cent.
However the number of larceny cases was almost doubled with 137 reported so far this year compared to 70 last year.
News of the reduction in the murder figure was first announced yesterday by Prime Minister Bruce Golding as he addressed the opening of the first Regional Law Enforcement Anti-Corruption Conference in Kingston.
While welcoming the positive trend, Golding accepted that the 204 murders reported so far this year was still too high.
"If you can have a 42 per cent reduction which equates to 150 murders, it just tells you the level of murders that is taking place and we still have such a far way to go," Golding said.
"No citizen can feel safe and secure in that environment," Golding added.
He argued that for the country's crime numbers to be that high, it must be facilitated by corruption.
"Corruption creates the condition for crime, facilitates crime and provides the cover for crime," Golding said as he welcomed the regional drive to tame corruption.
In the meantime, the latest crime numbers show 38 people fatally shot by the police since the start of this year.
This is half of the 76 fatal shootings reportedly carried out by the police for the corresponding period last year.