Shahine Robinson Urges United Effort to Reclaim Crime Torn Communities

KINGSTON — Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government, Hon. Shahine Robinson, has suggested a collective effort to reclaim, renew and rebuild communities impacted by crime and violence, to ensure Jamaica’s transformation into a safe and prosperous nation.

Speaking at the official opening of the Church Pen community and computer centre, St. Catherine, on Wednesday August 17, Mrs. Robinson described crime and violence as a “twin scourge” that “continues to pose the greatest deterrent to our realization of a safe and prosperous Jamaica”.  

While acknowledging a reduction in crime based on statistics provided by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JDF), she lamented that these declines were “not enough”.

“I believe…that the building of strong communities is critical to providing the support that our crime fighting initiatives require at the local level. Communities are built on partnerships, internal ones among members, as well as external ones, with other communities, organizations, and agencies. These partnerships give us united power to fight crime and to provide an environment in which emerging signs of economic prosperity can really take root,” Miss Robinson stated.

“Our collective effort to renew, reclaim and rebuild our communities is, therefore, vital to the reduction of crime and violence and, for the creation of conditions for rapid and sustained economic prosperity and social stability. Let us reclaim our neighbourhoods from wrongdoers. Let us rebuild our communities for a safe and prosperous Jamaica. Let us love each other. Let us reclaim Jamaica, land we love, not just for us, but for our children and our children’s children,” she exhorted.

The Church Pen community and computer centre was jointly developed, at a cost of just over $5 million, by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Universal Access Fund (UAF), National Housing Trust (NHT), Social Development Commission (SDC) and the Member of Parliament for South West St. Catherine, which includes Church Pen, Everald Warmington, as well as residents of Church Pen.

By DOUGLAS McINTOSH, JIS Reporter