There has been a steady decline in severe violence since November 2023, says Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. “For the six-month period, November 2023 to April 2024, we have seen a 24 per cent decline in the homicide rate, when compared with the preceding six-month period,” Dr. Chang stated. He was making his contribution to the 2024/25...

Commanding Officer of the St. James Police Division, Superintendent Eron Samuels, says there has been a significant reduction in homicides and shootings in the parish during April. Addressing the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Superintendent Samuels pointed out that six murders were recorded in the parish during the month, the lowest monthly homicide rate recorded in the...

The public is being reminded that under the new Road Traffic Act, the police is empowered to ticket a motorist for careless driving. “Under the old Act, the police could not issue a ticket for careless driving; that has changed so that the police can now issue a ticket. Someone can actually pay a fine or attend court for that...

Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says situations where students are in the crossfire of those who are intent on engaging in criminal activities, will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with forcefully. Dr Chang, who was part of a Ministerial team, which included Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, that visited Grange Hill High...

The Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) will be looking, over the medium term, to align its operations in accordance with the Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act, 2022. This is to inform the public and stakeholders of its new role, as well as modernise its record-keeping process and improve its cyber resilience under the new legislation, which replaced the Firearm Act...

The Inter-Ministerial School Support Strategy (ISSS), which is aimed at eradicating violence in schools, will benefit from a financial boost over the next two fiscal years. The support will be provided under the six-year Violence Prevention Partnership between the Government of Jamaica and the United Kingdom (UK). The two governments formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently at the...

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman, has been promoted to Vice Admiral (Lieutenant General) and three Colonels have been promoted to Brigadier, effective May 10 2024, following approval from the Defence Board. Rear Admiral Wemyss Gorman was appointed CDS on January 21 2022. Her career spans 32 years at various command levels. As CDS, she has...