West poised to shed ‘murder capital’ title
... JCF’s crime stats showing significant reduction in bloodletting
Published:Thursday | June 5, 2025 | 12:10 AMAdrian Frater/Gleaner Writer -
Western Bureau:
Having been labelled the nation’s murder capital for almost a decade, western Jamaica is seemingly on course to shed that title, given the dramatic reduction in murders since the start of this year.
Based on the latest Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) serious crime report, St James, Westmoreland and Hanover are currently enjoying double-digit reductions in murders up to the end of May when compared to the similar period last year. At the same time, Trelawny, which had the lowest murder tally in the region last year, has seen a seven per cent reduction.
In speaking to the new-found peace in St James, which had consistently been registering more than 100 murders every year over the past two decades, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon recently declared the city a relatively safe space for locals and visitors.
“To our visitors, welcome to the best city in the Caribbean, where the homicide rate is less than 10 per 100,000,” said Vernon, while speaking at an event in the parish. “Our city is trending in the right direction.”
In looking at the numbers, between January 1 and May 24 last year, St James had 42 murders, which exploded into 125 murders at the end of the year. However, with this year’s figures over the same period at 22, the lowest it has been in recent memory, Senior Superintendent Eron Samuels, the parish’s police commander, is confident that based on the current trend, this year’s figure will fall below 100.
“As we strive to make Montego Bay a model city for safety and security, it is crucial that we maintain the momentum we have built,” said Samuels. “We are committed to ensuring that criminals feel that there is no safe haven within our borders. Our officers are dedicated to maintaining a high level of vigilance and responding swiftly to any threats that may arise.”
In Westmoreland, which emerged as a hotbed of lawlessness last year, especially in the Grange Hill area, where a bloody feud between the King Valley gang and the Ants Posse gang spawn numerous murders, pushing the parish to 100 murders for the year, things are trending in the opposite direction this year.
Based on the murder tally so far this year, which currently stands at 17, significantly less than the 42 over the comparative period last year, and the added fact that several top-flight violence producers have been killed in alleged confrontations with the security forces, Westmoreland seems well on course to see far fewer murders than last year.
“Last year I was worried about the survival of my business because the gunmen were all over the place creating havoc, but, thankfully, this year things are different, as those (gunmen) who have not been killed by the police have fled the parish,” a businessman, who asked not to be identified, told The Gleaner. “I feel much safer this year.”
Hanover, which is making a relentless push to reclaim the ‘safest parish’ status it once held, has seen a mere five murders between January 1 and May 24, which is far below the 21 reported over the comparative period last year.
With Superintendent Andrew Nish, the parish’s police commander, adamant that criminals will not be allowed free reign, the parish is eyeing single figures in murders this year.
“Our mandate is to keep this parish safe, so that the residents can live free from fear, and business can flourish in a peaceful setting,” said Nish. “We have been engaging the communities with various social programmes, so we are expecting them to play their role in helping us keep them safe.”
Trelawny, which is under new leadership after the retirement of Superintendent Winston Milton, has had five murders since the start of the year in comparison to the 12 over the similar period last year.