PNP chides Holness on crime assertions

The Governing People’s National Party (PNP) is chiding opposition leader Andrew Holness for what it says are his irresponsible statements in relation to the country’s crime problem.

While speaking on a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) platform last week, Holness suggested that if Jamaicans wanted to be assured of their lives, they should not re-elect the PNP.

He also made his often repeated argument that murder figures tend to dip whenever, the JLP is in power.

However, the PNP has hit back calling the statements by Holness baseless and ridiculous.

The PNP says with crime such a serious problem with deep sociological roots it demands a sober and analytical response.

The PNP says such a response should be bipartisan instead of being the subject of talk on a political platform.

Meanwhile, the PNP says the assertions by Holness are not true as there were 1,682 reported murders in 2009 when the JLP was in office.

It says that figure is the highest reported in one year, while the country’s lowest murder figure in ten years was recorded last year, when 1,005 homicides were committed.