Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared that Jamaica's declining murder rate is a direct result of a systematic dismantling of organized crime networks, stating that criminals are losing their territorial control. He made these remarks on Thursday while addressing the 4th Annual Security Seminar hosted by the Office of the National Security Advisor at the AC Marriott hotel in New Kingston. Holness emphasized that the strategy involves disrupting gang leadership, constraining their finances, and making communities permanently inhospitable to their return through consistent state presence and development.
This progress is positioned not just as a social victory but as a crucial economic asset that gives Jamaica a competitive edge in the region. For decades, rampant crime and violence acted as a significant drag on the nation's growth, deterring investment, driving away talent, and increasing business costs. Holness argued that in an uncertain global climate, the country's growing security resilience and institutional strength are becoming rare commodities that can attract capital and underpin long-term, inclusive economic development.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister cautioned that these hard-won security gains must be locked in through sustained development to prevent backsliding. He stressed that the state must govern through legitimacy and the provision of lawful economic opportunities, replacing the fear once instilled by gangs. Furthermore, he highlighted the need for national security resilience in the face of other threats, citing the recent Category 5 Hurricane Melissa as a defining national security event that affected hundreds of thousands of citizens.
