Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has announced that more advertisements will be placed in the overseas media to attract persons in the diaspora to serve on statutory boards in Jamaica.

She was addressing members of the diaspora at the Medgar Evers College auditorium in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday, during a function of the Jamaica Independence Anniversary Committee.

"I urge you to put aside party political differences and one-upmanship for the benefit and development of an independent Jamaica," she said. "It is time to stop it, it's time to reunite because together we can make it."

The Prime Minister's latest announcement follows her comments at the biennial Diaspora Conference in June, that she wanted members of the diaspora to be represented in the Senate.

The Prime Minister also told members of the diaspora that while crime is trending down, it was still a major concern.

Last week, State Minister for National Security, Dr. Donald Rhodd, reported a 34 per cent decrease in murders for the first 10 days of August compared with the same period last year.

The Police High Command has reported a 24 per cent overall reduction in crime with all major offences trending down.