Gov’t’s Multifaceted Approach to Improve National Security Working – Prime Minister Holness

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government’s multifaceted approach to reducing crime and improving national security is working.

“Our strategies are working. Our murder rate is now about 10 per cent below what it was last year this time, and we experienced a similar reduction last year. Our strategy is to continue to push that homicide rate downwards. The number of gangs that threatened us has been, basically, cut in half.

We have dismantled many of the violence-producing gangs,” he said.

The Prime Minister was addressing the opening ceremony for the 10th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James on Tuesday (June 18).

Mr. Holness said significant investments have been made in technology to improve the security forces’ crimefighting capabilities.

“I know there was some concern where members of the diaspora offered to assist with technology and computers, and so forth, and it may have created some dissonance in the offer being made versus the acceptance. The truth is that our security forces have created an ecosystem where you have to be very specific with technology that you introduce to it. So a donation of one thing here might not necessarily fit within that ecosystem, and we have to protect that ecosystem,” he pointed out.

Mr. Holness also noted substantial investments made to boost the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency’s operations, cybersecurity, human resources in the security forces and strengthening border security.

He said Jamaica has never had the level of investment in the national security apparatus as is occurring under the current Administration.

“I want to give you the assurance in the diaspora that we are taking a multifaceted, multilayered strategic approach in reducing crime without, at the same time, violating the human rights and standards that our people expect of us,” Prime Minister Holness stated.