Crime Rates in Jamaica: Is the Government’s Strategy Working?

Crime Rates in Jamaica: Is the Government’s Strategy Working? Law enforcement officials have reported a significant 18% decrease in violent crimes and an approximately 18.5% decrease in murders across Jamaica compared to the previous year. However, is this remarkable drop in crime rates enough to soothe the concerns of the people? This decline serves as a beacon of hope for the safety and security of our nation. It signals a positive trajectory for the future.

Crime Rates in Jamaica. Nationally, there were 1,138 murders across Jamaica since January 1, 2024, 259 less than the comparative period in 2023.

Still, any decrease in violent crimes and murders is good news to the ears of the Jamaican people. They are the ones who have been held hostage by bare-faced criminals.

But is it time for a victory lap, as the government and the JCF appear to be doing? Shouldn’t we question the root causes of crime more vocally? Shouldn’t we examine the effectiveness of our strategies? We should be demanding change and action.

Prime Minister Holness has not done anything to lower the crime rate in Jamaica considerably

Under Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ leadership, Jamaica has consistently surpassed a thousand murders each year. This trend has been ongoing since he took office in 2016. Despite efforts to reduce crime, the murder rate remains a significant challenge for the country. It keeps us all on high alert. We are engaged in finding solutions.

The 2024 Crime Rates in Jamaica spell trouble for Prime Minister Holness. He told the Jamaican people that only he alone could solve crime.

He also boldly and confidently promised the people they would sleep with open windows and doors. But those were empty promises he had yet to fulfill.

To date, Prime Minister Holness has not taken any action to improve the Crime Rates in Jamaica. He has not convinced the Jamaican people that he has a solution to solve crime.

Early in 2018, Mr. Holness fired the newly minted Commissioner and hired his security adviser and friend, Major General Anthony Anderson.

Major Anderson took the job as police commissioner on a three-year contract on March 18, 2018.  Crime escalated during the life of his contract. However, the government still renewed his contract for another three years in 2021. Plus, a pay increase.

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr. Kevin Blake took over from Major General Anderson. Blake became the fourth police commissioner under Andrew Holness’ tenure as Prime Minister.

The Jamaican people deserve more than an 18% decrease in the Crime Rates in Jamaica. However, Commissioner Blake has only been on the job for seven months. He deserves a bow.