Holness warns of criminals in the diaspora

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reiterated his Government’s intention to continue working, largely with the United States, to stomp out transnational crime, including illegal acts committed my members of the diaspora.

His diplomatically couched comments came as he addressed the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay on Tuesday.

“Please forgive what I’m about to say: The criminals have representatives in the diaspora as well. And so as they become more transnational, the criminals, the Government of Jamaica has increased its transnational cooperation with other countries and security forces to make sure that criminals have no place to hide,” the prime minister said.

There have long been reports that Jamaicans who live outside the country’s borders are involved in the illicit gun and drugs trade. There have also been numerous instances where Jamaicans have been extradited to the US to face lottery scamming charges. Holness alluded to both examples in his address.

“We have especially increased our cooperation with the Government of the United States, which has resulted in several important initiatives and changes. Recently, you would have seen some very high-profile arrests taking place, both on the lottery scamming front and on the interdiction for the illegal importation of weapons into Jamaica. We will continue to cooperate with the United States and other countries on security matters,” he declared.

The prime minister said his Government is also prepared to handle any fallout from criminals, under pressure in other sections of the Caribbean, migrating to Jamaica’s shores.

“We are cognisant that as security operations are stepped up in the Eastern Caribbean, criminals and their networks will seek to divert more into the Northern Caribbean. But we are preparing, and we are prepared for them,” he assured.

He sought to assure members of the diaspora that Jamaica is and will continue to be safe.

A section of the audience in attendance on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the second day of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference being held in Montego Bay. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

“Over the past three years, Jamaica has made real progress in public safety. In 2023, homicides fell by eight per cent; in 2024, they fell by a further 19 per cent. In 2025, they fell by 42 per cent and as of May 2026, murders are down a further 22.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. Taken together, homicides are down by 67 per cent over the past four years,” Holness pointed out.

“These are not just numbers, they are lives saved. It’s a child who did not lose their father, communities where people are beginning to breathe a little easier; businesses that can now open later, young men who are alive today because violence did not take their lives,” he said.

He attributed these gains to investments made in national security, in particular the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Noting that the country’s national security budget has almost tripled over the last 10 years, resulting in a well-funded JCF, he also pointed out that the force has now reached its targeted membership.

“For the first time in its history, the JCF is now at its established strength of 14,000-plus. Before, they hovered at 12,500, sometimes even less. Now, even with attrition, we are at our establishment,” Holness said.

The prime minister also noted that the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), too, has benefited from investment which has also allowed it to make headway in the fight against crime.

“We have almost doubled the size of the JDF and the focus of both organisations, is not merely the kinetic operations which make the news, and how effective they have been at interdicting, intercepting, and, unfortunately, sometimes those who challenge would have lost lives. But the key to the JCF and the JDF is to create a space where communities can flourish, yes, but where businesses can grow and flourish as well,” he said.

He said the intention is to now push forward with reducing the crime numbers making Jamaica safer for all, including Jamaicans living overseas who wish to return home and/or invest in the country.

“As members of the diaspora, when I interact with you, one of the first things you point out to me, you say, ‘Prime Minister, I would love to come back, but the crime’. As you can see, we are getting that under control. It is our intention to bring our murder rate down to the regional average, which is 15 per 100,000, which would mean that we would have about 500 or less murders per year, and we will continue to push until our murder rate is zero. That’s the ambitious objective, but an ambition nonetheless,” he said.