Andrew Holness has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to aggressively combat crime, declaring that criminal elements will be “eliminated” as part of efforts to unlock the country’s full economic potential.
Speaking at the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce Awards banquet held at the Cardiff Hotel and Spa on Sunday, the prime minister emphasized that the government will continue to intensify its anti-crime measures.
- Advertisement -
“We will continue to go hard on the criminals; we will eliminate them from our society so we can get the full value of Jamaica,” Holness stated to strong applause from business leaders and stakeholders in attendance.
He also urged Jamaicans to reject the long-standing perception of criminals as modern-day Robin Hood figures, warning that such views contribute to the normalization of crime.
“No, they’re not doing that! They are raping your daughters and killing your sons,” he said, stressing the urgent need for a cultural shift in how criminal activity is perceived.
Holness pointed to recent progress in crime reduction, noting that murders declined significantly from 1,147 in 2024 to 673 in 2025, a 43 percent decrease. He expressed confidence that the downward trend will continue into 2026.
“For the first time in 30 years, the murder rate is below a thousand… and we intend to bring it down even further,” he added.
The prime minister linked crime directly to economic performance, particularly within the tourism sector. He argued that Jamaica’s high crime rate has diminished the value of its tourism product, resulting in lower wages for workers compared to regional counterparts.
Drawing comparisons with Bridgetown, Holness noted that tourism workers in Barbados earn more not because they work harder, but because they operate within a higher-value, lower-crime environment.
“The Barbadian worker isn’t working harder… but they earn more because they have a higher value product than us,” he explained, identifying lower crime rates as a key factor behind that disparity.
Holness further criticized societal tolerance of criminal behavior, arguing that public ambivalence has contributed to Jamaica’s crime challenges.
“Until we get that out of our minds… we will continue to cuddle them,” he said, adding that criminal activity undermines productivity and weakens the country’s economic output.
He concluded by urging Jamaicans to take a firm stance against crime, warning that failure to do so will continue to suppress economic growth and wage potential.
“We must stop seeing criminals as Robin Hoods and recognize them for what they are, a pestilence,” Holness declared.
