All Jamaicans Must Be Invested in Crime Reduction to Unlock National Development
Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has called on every Jamaican to become invested in reducing crime, emphasizing that safer communities are essential to delivering development, attracting investment and improving the lives of citizens across the island.
Speaking today (Wednesday, July 1, 2026) at the National Housing Trust (NHT) Handing Over Ceremony for the Vineyard Town Housing Development in Vineyard Town, St. Andrew, Prime Minister Holness said the project’s delayed completion illustrates the high cost of criminality and the transformative benefits that accompany peace and public safety.
The Prime Minister noted that although construction began in 2017, persistent violence, gang activity and extortion significantly disrupted the work, delaying the project for years. By 2021, the original construction contract had to be terminated, with criminal activity identified as a major factor affecting progress.
“The criminals are not Robin Hoods. They are not your friends. The criminals delay or prevent development. What we are looking at here is a development which started in 2017, and we can only hand it over now, almost nine years later. That is the impact of criminality on society,” stated Prime Minister Holness.
The Prime Minister also noted that the delays deprived deserving families of timely access to safe and affordable housing, demonstrating that criminal activity harms the very communities it claims to represent.
Prime Minister Holness urged Jamaicans to reject any tolerance for criminal behaviour, stressing that sustained reductions in violence create measurable benefits for the country.
The Prime Minister said: “Therefore, all Jamaicans must be invested in the reduction of the murder rate. There is a dividend for the country when crime and violence are reduced, and peace is flourishing in society. The only reason we are able to complete this project is that we have been able to bring the criminality and gangs under some level of control.”
Prime Minister Holness said Jamaica is already experiencing the dividends of improved public safety, with stronger confidence in the country’s stability creating favourable conditions for investment, housing development and economic growth. The Prime Minister added that when communities are peaceful, public projects can be completed more efficiently and citizens can benefit more quickly from national development.
The Vineyard Town Housing Development comprises 14 studio apartments across two locations at 2A Central Avenue and 7 Third Avenue. Each approximately 430-square-foot unit includes a fitted kitchen and bathroom, providing modern, affordable housing for Jamaican families.