Criminals on the run, Nelson tells Diaspora

Billy Hall, Contributor

MIAMI, Florida:

Approximately 600 members and visitors at the Kendall Community Church of God in southwest Miami gave a standing ovation to Jamaica's Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson on Sunday as he reassured them the island was at "a significant turning point" in putting a stranglehold on criminality.

"Crime in Jamaica is on the way down," Nelson declared, supporting his assertion with statistics pointing to a dramatic decline in the murder rate over the last two months by at least 50 per cent.

"Criminals are on the run for the first time in a long time," he assured the congregation, to applause.

Nelson was the guest speaker at a church service in recognition of the island's 48th year of Independence and 172nd year of Emancipation.

The special afternoon service attracted a wide representation of Jamaicans in the southwest, representative of several denominations, including Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Christian Brethren.

Principal concern

Nelson, in his opening remarks, brought a message from Prime Minister Bruce Golding, requesting prayer.

"Crime remains the nation's principal concern," he said, accepting that his Government must assume full responsibility to ensure crime levels that are tolerable.

Noting that the most crucial need was for citizens and the police to work together, he said: "The Government is determined to continue along the path of changing the culture of the police to engender more public cooperation."

He also noted that there was a need for more social programmes in certain communities, such as literacy and skills-training, expansion of neighborhood-watch programmes, and better treatment of juveniles.

He appealed to the Diaspora for help, and said that the US has a major role to play in regard to exporting so many persons criminally charged.

He added, however, that the positive role of the US was critical, and that he was happy "relations are on the mend".