Senator Abka Fitz Henley says the progress made in crime fighting, with the country on course to achieve a 30-year low in murders, is evidence of the government’s commitment to creating a safer and more secure country.

He said that the administration, in partnership with the security forces, will not relent in going after criminals.

“Let the message [resonate] across every crevice and corner of Jamaica, let every don, every shota, every kilikili, or quenga as they call them, every enabler and facilitator of violent crime understand that the Government of Jamaica is winning and will win the fight against violent crime,” he said.

Fitz Henley, who is state minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for communication, was speaking in the Senate on Friday (December 19), where he noted that for the first time in approximately 31 years, Jamaica is on track to record below 700 murders in a calendar year.

He said that data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) also indicates that for the first time in 28 years, Jamaica is set to record way below 1,000 murders.

He noted that murders in Jamaica had plummeted in 2025 by over 42 per cent.

“I believe as well that it is only right that [we] lawmakers extend our congratulations to the police, including the Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake, and the men and women he leads. Also, the members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JCF), who placed their lives on the line daily in 2025 to ensure that up until Wednesday of this week, a whopping 435 fewer people in Jamaica have been murdered this year when compared to 2024,” Senator Fitz Henley said.

He noted as well that this year, approximately 17 of the 19 police divisions have recorded decreases in murders when compared to last year. Only St Ann recorded a slight increase, while St. Thomas broke even.

Senator Fitz Henley said the suite of policies, including bolstering the intelligence capabilities of the security forces, unprecedented investment in protecting Jamaica’s borders, boosting the mobility of the police force, and sustained investment in the transformation of the JCF, are yielding positive outcomes and are saving Jamaican lives.

“We are hopeful, sir, that this year, 2025, is a turning point in the fight against violent crime,” he said.

As it relates to fatal police shootings, Senator Fitz Henley noted that the Government has been clear that allegations of excesses by agents of the State must be investigated.

“We do not tolerate abuse of our citizens,” he declared.

He noted, however, that the police will not back down from those who seek to engage them with lethal force.