The Government is further enhancing border security with the acquisition of 24 surface interceptor vessels this year. These are high-speed, specialised boats designed for rapid maritime interception and patrol, often used for counter-narcotics operations, maritime security, and border patrol. Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2025/26 Budget Debate in the...

Forty-four women at the South Camp Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston have graduated with academic and skills certification, in preparation for their reintegration into society. The Centre’s rehabilitation programme is facilitated by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), in partnership with the HEART/NSTA Trust, to help reduce recidivism through various interventions, including academic classes, skills training, counselling and therapy, life...

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) says enhancing soft skills among participants in its Skills Training for Workforce Development initiative will significantly improve their preparedness for employment. The programme, a collaborative effort involving the HEART/NSTA Trust and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), will train 50 young people aged 18 to 23 in Business Administration and Electrical Installation over an...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says Jamaicans should remain firm and resolute in denying criminals any sense of security or belonging within their neighbourhoods. "Criminals are bad news – blights on our communities and hindrances to our well-being. They are violent and stand against everything that is good and decent," Dr. Holness said, and urged Jamaicans to...

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang is optimistic that the country could record under 800 murders in 2025. Dr. Chang informed that already, the data is showing a 31.2 per cent reduction in murders compared to the same period last year. “If we can maintain the trend, look at the projection and ensure that...

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has launched a Positive Behaviour Management Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Manual, as a crucial step towards converting juvenile correctional facilities into places of transformation. With a focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, the SOP outlines consistent, evidence-based strategies for promoting positive behaviours and addressing challenging ones, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone....

Stakeholders in Montego Bay, St. James, are hailing the decline in crime in the parish since the start of the year. February marked a historic low in violent crime with one murder recorded. Data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) showed that between January 1 and February 18, six murders were reported in St. James, compared to 22 over the...