The Authorities of Japan is being hailed for its function in helping Jamaica to drive down main crimes, significantly murders.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) within the Jamaica Constabulary Drive (JCF), Jacqueline Inexperienced-Scaffe, says Japan’s continued generosity via grants, tools and goodwill has fortified the safety forces’ capability not simply to battle crime however to construct stronger communities.
She was talking throughout a handover ceremony for 5 maritime patrol vessels donated by the Japanese Authorities, on the JDF Coast Guard Base in Port Royal, Kingston, on Thursday (April 10).
ACP Greene-Scaffe stated the supply of inshore patrol vessels “is a strong demonstration of what cooperation and mutual respect between nations can obtain”.
“These vessels now entrusted to the JCF will considerably strengthen our potential to safe our maritime area. On this regard, they’ll function one other layer of safety for the folks of Jamaica, fortifying our shared mission to make sure a secure and safe society,” she acknowledged.
The senior officer famous that the vessels are the most recent present of help from the Japanese Authorities, which has persistently supplied support to Jamaica.
“Solely not too long ago, the Jamaica Constabulary Drive obtained quite a few automobiles underneath the identical partnership, belongings which have already been built-in into our operations. These automobiles are enhancing mobility and have made a tangible affect on the bottom,” ACP Greene-Scaffe indicated.
She stated the automobiles have contributed meaningfully to crime-fighting efforts, helping the police within the strategic deployment of personnel and assets throughout key areas, which, in flip, has been pivotal in driving down main crimes, together with homicides.
“Safety will not be achieved in isolation. It’s constructed on networks of belief, on cooperation throughout sectors and, sure, on the regular hand of diplomacy,” the senior officer added.
She famous, additional, that the partnership between Jamaica and Japan demonstrates how worldwide growth help aligned with native priorities can yield outcomes that save lives and safeguard futures.
ACP Greene-Scaffe expressed gratitude to the Authorities of Japan on the JCF’s behalf, noting that the organisation anticipates continued collaboration, “not solely as allies in growth but additionally as companions in peace”.
The function performed by the Japanese Authorities in bolstering Jamaica’s safety infrastructure was additional emphasised by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Nationwide Safety, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang.
“We’ve got had some successes, and I commend the safety forces (the Jamaica Defence Drive (JDF) and JCF) for the efforts they’ve put in and the time they’ve put in and for the use they’ve manufactured from the belongings we have now been supplied with. We must put in additional [assets], and we respect the contribution of the Japanese Authorities to strengthen our safety groups. We are going to proceed to work to make sure that we have now a secure nation,” he indicated.
In the meantime, in his remarks, Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Yasuhiro Atsumi, famous that the island’s declining homicide price is “excellent information”.
“I’d wish to congratulate Minister Chang, Police Commissioner, Dr. [Kevin] Blake and [Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)], Vice Admiral Wemyss-Gorman, and all of the JCF and the JDF employees on the very promising information which Prime Minister [Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew] Holness introduced. That’s to say, the homicide price in Jamaica, to this point, this 12 months declined about 35 per cent in comparison with final 12 months, along with the decline of 19 per cent in 2024 and the decline of seven per cent in 2023,” he acknowledged.
Ambassador Atsumi stated he’s joyful to assume that Japan’s cooperation with Jamaica contributed to the discount in crime and violence.
He urged the Authorities to proceed working to cut back the homicide price and different main crimes, in order that Jamaica can turn into one of many most secure locations on the planet.
