Senator Peter Bunting delivered a pointed critique of the current Jamaica Labour Party administration’s approach to crime and violence, contrasting it with what he called the People’s National Party’s (PNP) “guardian mentality”.

“There is a fundamental difference in the approach of the People’s National Party to the existing administration. If I were to characterise the difference, I would say it’s the militarisation or the warrior mentality of the security forces that this government promotes, versus the guardian mentality that the PNP promotes,” Bunting said, while speaking at the launch of the PNP’s manifesto on Tuesday, August 12, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.

He emphasised that while the current government treats law enforcement as a militarised force, the PNP envisions a security apparatus rooted in protection and prevention. “So with a warrior mentality, our security forces go out to fight crime and enforce the law. With a guardian mentality, our security forces go out every day to uphold the human rights of our citizens.”

Bunting was critical of what he sees as a punitive mindset, where young Jamaicans are viewed through the lens of criminal suspicion rather than allowed to have a positive impact in society. “We don’t look on young people just as potential recruits to gangs, and if they go off the rails, then we need to come down on them hard, longer prison sentences, etc. We want to give them opportunities that will divert them away from a life of crime,” he said.

Bunting credited the party leader, Mark Golding, who was a former minister of justice, for spearheading legislative changes that have had a lasting social impact. “He made some transformative laws… about social engineering rather than fighting crime.”

He cited two major initiatives implemented by Golding: the decriminalisation of ganja for personal use and the automatic expungement of minor criminal records. “That moved tens of thousands of young Jamaicans, mostly men, from the margins of the economy and allowed them now to get farm work cards, to get visas, and to be able to work in many financial institutions,” Bunting added.

Bunting said the PNP’s core belief is that real security lies in crime prevention, not just enforcement. “So our approach is not all about fighting crime, as important as that is, but in terms of sustainability, we’re more interested in crime prevention.”

He also advocated for investments in education, training, and employment as the most effective deterrents to crime. “[This includes] creating opportunities for our young people, investing in our communities, building our schools, ensuring that there are employment and training opportunities that are as attractive or more attractive than a life of crime.”

This vision, he argued, represents the “fundamental difference” between the PNP and the current Jamaica Labour Party administration. “When you talk about the future, it can’t be about a police force that’s primarily into militarisation and occupying forces in our communities. We want safe communities, but we want them built on a foundation of trust between the citizens and the security forces. They will be partners in building Jamaica in terms of our human development, infrastructure development, and the social transformation of many of these communities, which are generating most of the violent crime today,” Bunting added.

Persons interested in reading the PNP’s manifesto can click on the link https://pnp.org.jm/manifesto-2/