MoBay’s deputy mayor praises St James police for blunting lawlessness
…Says residents can now sleep with open doors, windows
Published:Monday | June 16, 2025 | 12:06 AMAdrian Frater/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
With St James now experiencing a dramatic decline in serious crimes, Montego Bay’s deputy mayor, Councillor Dwight Crawford, last week heaped praise on to the police for their success in blunting the runaway lawlessness which has been a perennial problem in the western parish.
Since the start of this year, St James has recorded 23 murders, which is a 68.5-per-cent reduction over the 73 recorded over the comparative period last year and is the lowest rate for any five-month period in almost two decades.
Addressing Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), after Deputy Superintendent of Police Linroy Edwards had given the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s monthly report on the status of crime in the parish, Crawford said they had succeeded in proving those who were questioning their competence wrong.
“Many people were chiming in, beating up the police, beating up the minister (National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang), beating up the government that there was no crime plan,” said Crawford. “I remember the days when this meeting went on an hour longer because we were busy talking about all the things that were going wrong.”
In referencing a comment made years ago by former National Security Minister Peter Bunting, who had stated that the crime situation required divine intervention, Crawford said the police have proven that they are up to the task.
“I remember it being previously said that divine intervention was needed …. It was being said that the police could not do the job … the former minister said divine intervention was needed to fix crime in Jamaica,” said Crawford.
“The minister (Dr Horace Chang) has given these same police [the tools], who we were told under the previous administration could not fix crime in Jamaica and they are getting the job done,” declared Crawford.
In further praising the police’s commitment to blunting lawlessness and put criminals on the run, Crawford said the police are doing what many Jamaicans would not dare to do.
“You (the police) are working hard, and you deserve the credit, and it must not be treated as if it is happening naturally,” said Crawford. “When a man is in a house with an AK-47 and you get up and leave your family to go there and get it, nuff of us in here could not be paid any amount of money to take on that task. You guys must be credited for the great work you are doing.”
In revisiting a campaign promise made in a previous election campaign by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who had promised that crime would be fixed to the extent that Jamaicans could sleep with their windows and doors open, Crawford said the police have now made that possible.
“I want to congratulate you (the police) on behalf of every Jamaican, who can now sleep with their doors and windows open,” he said.
In his report on policing in the parish, Edwards said that, last year, St James was leading (all police divisions) as it relates to murder reduction, but nonetheless ended the year with the highest murder tally among all divisions.
“In this very forum, we made a commitment that we want to remove St James from that status, and now I can safely say it is no longer an ambition, it is a reality,” said Edwards. “As we speak now, we are tied at fourth with other divisions and that is something that is welcoming.”
“The figures speak to 23 murders since the start of the year, when compared to last year’s 73, it is a
68.5-per-cent reduction,” continued Edwards. “We have recorded 23 shootings this year against the 63 last year, a 58.7-per-cent reduction … overall, we have 45-per-cent reduction as it relates to major crimes.”