Tit for tat: PM and opposition clash over crime management

 

Prime Minister and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, Dr. Andrew Holness, is insisting that his government has delivered in tackling issues surrounding national security when compared with the opposition People's National Party.

 

Dr. Holness has been making the case for a third term for the JLP, based on his performance. 

 

He noted the overwhelming crime situation in 2013, which caused then Minister of National Security Peter Bunting to state that "divine intervention" was needed. 

 

Addressing a workers' meeting in South East St. Mary recently, Dr. Holness said based on current trends, the number of murders recorded for 2025 could be below 800.

 

"And when that happens, we will see a murder rate of somewhere in the region of 25 to 28 per 100,000. In other words, this administration would have nearly halved the murder rate in this country. So if you were to make a decision based upon issues of security and you are using the murder rate, the homicide rate, as a measure of success, then you would have to conclude that the management of national security and public safety today is far better than it was 10 years ago," Dr. Holness declared. 

 

He further argued that the JLP administration has been the best performing government in all critical areas relating to management of the country.

 

"In these matters of life and death - which is literally what this election is about - you can't leave it up to sweet talk, nice advertising and nice-sounding promises. You have to look at the performance of the person who is going to hold the steering wheel of this country, to carry us on that journey of properity for us to fulfill the God-given promise of prosperity for the people of Jamaica. You only have one choice in this matter. You can only make one decision and that is to choose Jamaica, chose the Jamaica Labour Party," he urged. 

 

 

Meanwhile, Opposition Spokesperson on National Security Senator Peter Bunting has accused the JLP administration of deception in its campaigning on the significant drop in the murder rate last year and the continuation of the trend this year. 

 

The country recorded 1,141 murders last year, a reduction of 19%, following a 7% drop in 2023. 

 

Speaking at a Mandeville divisional conference in Manchester on Sunday, Senator Bunting said the JLP has conveniently forgotten the over 1,200 murders per year recorded in the first seven years of its administration.

 

"So let me start by making it clear, the most murders in the history of Jamaica have occurred under Andrew Holness two terms.... Dem seh dem waan run on dem record with crime, and their record is for four or four and a half months, but dem don't mention the other eight or nine years when people were being murdered left, right and centre and resources were being wasted on these unconstitutional and ineffective states of emergency," he contended.  

  

The Senator Bunting labelled the current administration as the most corrupt, citing Integrity Commission and Auditor General reports.