Murder continues to figure prominently on Jamaica’s crime tally sheet. And yet we seem to enjoy reading off those ugly stats. For example, in the latest Jamaica news, the police reported that Thirty-five people were killed in Jamaica last week (but the sentence didn’t stop there. The author had to add drama and sensation) in one of the bloodiest seven-day periods since the start of the year.
The 35 murders represent an eight percent year-over-year increase in homicides-which means Jamaicans have killed 98 more citizens so far this year than they did last year. Therefore as of November 5, Jamaica has recorded 1,329 murder victims.
When the police break down the numbers by division from 1-5, the tourism capital of Jamaica leads the carnage, followed by Westmoreland, then St Cathrine North, which is closely followed by St Andrew South, then St Cathrine south.
Portland is once again the safest place to live. Murders thus far this year have decreased by 38 percent.
Shootings, wounding, and rape have decreased, but Robberies and break-ins increased.