Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says Jamaica must protect the substantial reduction in murders in order to reap the benefits of future investments.
Dr. Holness says the next goal is to achieve the regional average for murder.
Dr. Holness says Jamaica could end the year with fewer than 600 murders, compared with its previous highs of over 1,300.
He described the decline as an achievement which successive administrations have sought for decades.
According to the Prime Minister, keeping the murder rate low will significantly improve quality of life for all Jamaicans.
Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness.
He was speaking on Wednesday at the groundbreaking ceremony for Luana Gardens Phase Four in St. Elizabeth.
Phase 4 of the development represents an investment of approximately $3.7 billion.
It is expected to provide 337 housing solutions – 140 houses and 197 serviced lots.
Prime Minister Holness says the project forms part of the government’s wider target of 70,000 new housing solutions.
