Government Will Continue To Make Strategic Investments In National Security

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government will continue to make strategic investments in the country’s national security.

Addressing the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) 105^th annual general meeting at JACISERA Park in St. Andrew, on May 30, he said these investments have resulted in a reduction in murder and major crimes.

Mr. Holness informed that investments have been made in maritime patrol and border security, improving the security forces’ technological capabilities and increasing personnel and intelligence, among other areas.

“Crime and violence and police reform, again these are long-term investments. The police have never been as equipped as they have been now. We have transformed the leadership and management of the police force. We have increased the numbers in the police force. Before, attrition was an issue, now it is not,” he said.

“The fact is we are now reaping the benefits of our investment in security where we are seeing major crimes going down, and murders starting to attenuate. We are not at the point where we want to be, but we are starting to see the results in the investment,” Mr. Holness added.

Data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) indicate an 11.2 per cent drop in murders up to May 27, when compared\ to the similar period last year.

There were 474 murders up to May 27 this year, while the corresponding period in 2023 showed 534 people being murdered.

The Prime Minister informed that the investments in the country’s maritime patrol and border security have also been yielding positive results.

“When we made the investment in offshore patrol vessels, radars and other technology to protect our borders, we weren’t thinking about Haiti and the possible migration from Haiti, we were thinking about interdicting drugs and guns coming through our exclusive economic zone, but as it has turned out, that investment is paying significant dividend,” Mr. Holness said.

“We are able to detect, we are able to deter, we are able to repatriate very quickly, and that is the benefit and dividend of the investment in security; something the average person won’t see as a benefit, but you as public servants, those of you who work in national security, you know and understand the threat and how we are protecting Jamaica better and better every day,” he told the audience.