Citizens Urged to Join Fight Against Crime

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is imploring citizens to play their part in ensuring that crime continues to trend downwards on the island.

“Across Jamaica, there’s a 22 per cent reduction in murders alone and close to a 40 per cent reduction in overall crime. We want to congratulate the police for the fantastic work they have been doing [but], the government [and] the police cannot do it alone.

“Every single one of you will have to play your part, to work with the police, work with one another, so that Jamaica can once again become the most peaceful place across the Western Hemisphere. It can be done if we are determined to make Jamaica safe and secure,” the Minister said.

He was speaking during the Legal Aid Council’s (LAC) justice fair for persons with disabilities which was held at Independence Park in Savanna-La- Mar, Westmoreland, on Friday (Feb.14).

Highlighting further strides made in crime fighting, Minister Chuck said that the number of gangs have been reduced from over 300 to under 150, and measures continue to eradicate all gangs across the island.

“We want to tell all those persons who are in gangs and those youngsters who want to join gangs, there’s a better life. You don’t have to be fighting one another. You don’t have to spend all your money buying guns, you don’t have to spend all your time scamming,” he said.

Mr. Chuck implored law abiding relatives of persons engaging in lottery scamming and other illegal activities, to encourage them to desist.

“Let them know that is not the way. You get a few dollars in your pocket and you start fighting over it. Easy come, easy go,” he said.

The fair forms part of the Ministry’s initiative to make justice more accessible to Jamaicans, including vulnerable citizens. It is also used as a tool to promote alternative justice services.

During the fair, persons with disabilities and other members of the public were provided with access to justice services such as expungement, victim support, estate management, child diversion and restorative justice.

Additional services are available through entities such as the Heart NSTA/Trust, Office of the Public Defender (OPD), the National Housing Trust (NHT) among others.