Hinting that Jamaica’s ambitions of attaining developed-country status was at risk because of epidemic levels of criminal violence, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he will be commissioning an external review to determine the island’s progress in achieving its Vision 2030 goals.
The long-term strategic development plan covers the 21-year period 2009 to 2030, with an end goal of positioning the country to become a developed country, Holness said on Wednesday.
“I do think we are all serious and on the same page about getting to that Vision 2030, and a part of that Vision 2030 is the peace of the country. The country is not at peace,” Holness said in an emotional address to the congregation during the second annual National Day of Prayer at the Power of Faith Ministries church in Portmore.
“Families are not at peace and over 70 per cent of homicides committed in Jamaica are gang related but 25 per cent thereabout are domestic, intimate partner, and some random killings and that is as a result of a lack of peace.”
Referencing Tuesday’s murder of two brothers - Dervin Jones, 43, and Sheldon Jones, 41 - in Westmoreland and the killing of 10-year-old Jezariah Tyrell in a home attack in central Kingston last week, the prime minister said he was haunted by the country’s murder wave.
“I go to my bed with these things on my conscience every night. I know that I have tried. It’s a minefield because every turn you make, there is someone who is trying to stop it, and I have to wonder, are they in support of the criminals in the country?” the prime minister asked, his voice cracking at moments.
Holness did not name those antagonists, but his barb may be viewed as a veiled attack on the Opposition People’s National Party, which doomed his bid to extend, by three months, initial activation of 14-day states of emergency in seven police divisions in November 2021.
Westmoreland and Kingston Central were among the divisions in which the security measure was imposed.
Though major crimes declined by eight per cent in 2021, murders skyrocketed nationally by 10 per cent to 1,463.
Holness explained that for Jamaica to regain peace, stronger measures also need to be put in place to address illegal firearms.
“We must get tough on illegal guns in the country. If you possess an illegal gun, it is only for one purpose, and that is to kill someone – no other reason to have an illegal gun,” he said.
Holness said his administration would be taking a new bill to Parliament, adding that he expects bipartisan support from lawmakers in making a pivotal assault on gun crime during the country’s 60th anniversary of Independence.
The prime minister said the Government is also increasing its capacity to have control of its territorial borders.
“We have to stop the guns from coming in. That’s why we’re putting the boats out there, and we are going to put more out there so we can control our territorial borders. Talk bout crime plan. It’s the first time Jamaica has a plan that is being executed and not just talk, money behind it,” he said, referencing his administration’s multibillion-dollar spend on national security since 2016.
Jamaicans gathered across 140 prayer centres on Wednesday and interceded under the theme ‘Family, The Bedrock of The Society’.
In his sermon, presiding bishop of Holiness Christian Church Inc, the Rev Dr Alvin Bailey, said that families have been fractured by social ills.
Bailey urged the Government to hold a series of national consultations including international participants on the family.
“Say to them, ‘We are having problems because the guns that are killing our children are coming from your country. We not only want to give you permission to come in our country to take out those who are deviants, but we want you to give us permission to come in your country and point out those who are not doing well for you to arrest them,” Bailey said.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Mark Golding said many of the problems in Jamaica stemmed from weak family structures.
Golding said the society needed to continue to focus on building programmes and institutions that support good parenting and the strengthening of families.
St Catherine Custos Icylin Golding, who presented remarks on behalf of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, said families have been under attack.
“There is evidence of a direct correlation between incidents of crime and violence and high levels of social and moral decline in any nation. For far too long we have struggled with these challenges,” the custos told the congregation.
“The Church has a major responsibility to intercede on behalf of this beautiful country. We know that the effectual and fervent prayer of the righteous avails much, and through this medium we will prevail.”