WAR ON GANGS
Holness commits to tough policing; vows no human rights abuses by security forces under his watch
Published:Wednesday | April 30, 2025 | 12:11 AMLivern Barrett/Senior Staff Reporter
Amid wide public debate sparked by an increase in police fatal shootings, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says his administration will never allow state forces to act in ways that “wantonly abuse” the human rights of citizens.
Holness was speaking on Tuesday, minutes before the start of a protest organised by one human rights advocacy group in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, to draw attention to the more than 100 police fatal shootings already this year.
Government officials, business operators, and others opposed to the protest urged citizens to wear blue to show support for the police.
During an address to business leaders, the prime minister – dressed in a blue business suit with blue tie and socks – said that human rights abuse by the security forces would not be tolerated by his administration.
“I want to reinforce that point and say it very loudly: that will never happen under my watch,” Holness said before he commissioned a new $2-billion factory owned by Jamaica Packaging Industries Limited into operation in St Andrew.
The prime minister, however, pushed back at what he described as a false notion that gangs are “an association of disenfranchised young men”.
“Yes, there is an element of that, but the gangs that we are dealing with are more appropriately described as criminal enterprises. They are an organisation of intelligent persons who pool resources together for criminal intent,” he said, noting that gangs are responsible for more than 80 per cent of murders in Jamaica.
“I’m not asking you to give up the healthy scepticism because that is important to keep institutions in check, but Jamaicans need to be practical about where we are … and we will continue on this path to respect the human rights of citizens but deal appropriately with those criminals who challenge us.”
Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake got a strong public endorsement from the head of Government, who cited the “amazing transformation” in the leadership of the police force.
Noting that the Police High Command has taken action against cops who have acted outside the use-of-force policy, Holness said he was satisfied that the men and women leading the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) “appreciate the importance of maintaining a high standard in protecting human rights”.
“You may see the outward transformation in its uniform, in its equipment, but you should also notice that there has been an amazing transformation in the leadership and doctrine of the JCF,” he said.
A total of 225 people were killed in Jamaica between January 1 and April 26 this year, according to the latest police data.
Murders are down by 36 per cent, with 130 fewer victims so far in 2025 when compared with the corresponding period last year, the data show.
With four months gone in the year, Holness predicted that Jamaica would record fewer than 1,000 murders by year end.
The last time Jamaica recorded fewer than 1,000 murders was 2003, when 976 people were killed.
“We will go below 1,000 murders [for] the first time in almost 30 years,” the prime minister said.
He added that this would send a signal to business operators and the rest of the world that Jamaica is serious about making the island a destination for people to come and visit and for businesses to come and operate.