The Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) is alarmed, shocked and outraged at the highly organized criminality manifesting itself in continued gruesome killings, daring and brazen robberies and heartless assaults on our citizenry, especially women and children, right across the nation.

This unacceptable and deteriorating state of affairs requires an “all hands on deck” approach and that all relevant and well-meaning groups and organizations be galvanized towards the implementation of the multi-faceted initiatives which will be required if Jamaica is to be rescued in a meaningful way from this criminal stranglehold. The member churches of the JBU pledge to support the national crime fighting effort by making our spaces and resources available to offer counselling, to provide mediation in domestic and other disputes and to encourage our members to share relevant information confidentially with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). We also encourage other denominations and churches to make their buildings and resources available in similar ways.

The JBU calls upon the government to initiate immediately an increase in the staff complement of the JCF by at least 4,000 persons, the number the organization is deemed to be in need of. This, we believe, will greatly assist the force in optimizing its plan to significantly reduce the levels of crime island wide.

We also renew our support for the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica’s (PSOJ’s) call for the staging of a Crime Summit with significant stakeholders in order that perceptions of the problem may be understood, ideas and solutions may be considered and evaluated and implementation strategies, plans and programmes be agreed.

The JBU stands ready to work in partnership with all law-abiding citizens and organizations to make a significant and sustainable impact on the violent, senseless, barbaric and lawless activities which have over-run our beloved country.