Jamaica leads Caribbean peace index as NWC rationing and Spark roads phase two draw debate

Jamaica has been named the most peaceful country in the Caribbean and the third most peaceful in North and Central America in the 2026 Global Peace Index, behind only Canada and Costa Rica. The ranking landed less than a day before National Security Minister Dr. Harris Chang told Parliament the country is on track for one of its safest years on record, with murders down 23% compared with the same period last year. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Orin Hill said he shared the news widely and received positive reactions from contacts abroad. He credited sustained security spending, fuller police staffing, improved travel advisories, and health infrastructure projects—including expected openings at Cornell Regional and Spanish Town, and a rebuild at Kingston Public Hospital—for shifting Jamaica’s international image. He said Minister Chang expects fewer than 600 murders this year and argued falling violence should boost investor and convention confidence.

Meanwhile, the National Water Commission imposed regulation measures across the corporate area as flows into the Hermitage Dam declined and storage fell to roughly 65% of capacity. Corporate relations manager Delano Williams said seasonal dry weather and rising demand continue to strain Kingston and St. Andrew’s systems despite storage of about 1.2 billion gallons. He said a non-revenue water programme cut distribution losses in the parish from near 70% to about 38%, while islandwide losses remain closer to 70%. Uphill communities are scheduled for supply roughly between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., with downstream areas served afterward; northeast parishes including St. Mary, Portland and St. Ann also face varying restrictions. Studies are underway on expanding the Hermitage and Mona reservoirs.

The government launched phase two of the Spark main roads programme, a $25 billion effort targeting 37 major roadways, including Washington Boulevard in Kingston. Deputy opposition spokesperson on roads and works Dwayne Vaz criticised phase one delays, extended timelines beyond the original March 2027 target, reduced road counts from earlier announcements, and reliance on a single main contractor. De facto Works Minister Robert Morgan said many projects should start this year and finish next year but could not give exact dates while designs continue.

Opposition spokesman on youth and human rights Isaac Buchanan faced criticism after remarks on the podcast The Perspective with Perry Cummings Jr. about conduct in the House of Representatives, including describing tensions among women MPs as a “girl fight” and referencing the view that “perhaps women are not ready” for Parliament. Buchanan said he was condemning disrespect visible to the public and quoting others’ thinking, not stating his own belief, and declined to withdraw the comments. Political analyst Dr. Naeen Spence said the framing used patriarchal language that undermines women in politics regardless of intent.