Murders on the decline in Jamaica

Police report a major decrease in murders - almost half the number recorded this time last year.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Wednesday March 23, 2011 – Prime Minister Bruce Golding has reported a 42 percent reduction in Jamaica’s murder rate when compared to this same time last year.

This month so far has seen a major decline, with 37 people killed in the first 20 days, just over a third of the 103 murdered in March 2010.

And while it’s significant, the Prime Minister has said there’s still a far way to go.

He noted that the intensified effort by the security forces since May of last year have produced remarkable results. 

“I do get weekly updates as to the level of crime that has taken place and the most recent update, which takes us up to Sunday the 20th, indicates that since the start of this year we have had a 42 percent reduction in the murder rate," Prime Minister Golding said, which means that 204 people have lost their lives so far for 2011, compared to 354 murders for the same period in 2010.

“If you can have a 42 percent 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 because no citizen can feel safe and secure in that environment,” he added.

Golding was speaking at the opening ceremony of the anti corruption conference of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) in Kingston yesterday.  

He noted that corruption creates the conditions for crime, facilitate crime and provides cover for crime and therefore had to be eliminated.

The CBSI law enforcement, anti-corruption conference is a forum to strengthen regional cooperation. It will launch the regional anti corruption network for all participating nations and their agencies which is aimed at reducing drug trafficking, increasing public safety and security and promoting social justice. 

It involves all CARICOM members, the USA, the UK, Canada and other nations that have Caribbean maritime borders. 

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