Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Dr Horace Chang, has lauded the partnership between the Government of Jamaica and the European Union (EU), noting its continued role in driving the Citizen Security Plan (CSP), transforming lives, and strengthening the nation’s security architecture.

“Together we will work to ensure we provide a model that can transform our communities, restore peace and good order where it doesn’t exist, and ensure that opportunities are provided for the young people… young citizens to grow up, achieve their dreams and build a peaceful and productive society,” he said.

Dr Chang was addressing a high‑level meeting on the progress of the Citizen Security Plan, held at the Office of the Police Commissioner in St Andrew on Wednesday.

The Citizen Security Plan (CSP) forms an integral part of Plan Secure Jamaica and stands as a viable, sustainable model of social investment, designed to address the root causes of crime across the country.

The EU, through its Budget Support Programme to Citizen Security in Jamaica, committed approximately €20 million (J$3.5 billion) in budgetary support for the Plan’s implementation.

An additional €8.8 million (approximately J$1.5 billion) in financial support is being provided to strengthen aspects of the programme in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Meanwhile, Dr Chang noted that the Citizen Security Secretariat and the Citizen Security Business Group are central to ensuring the CSP’s success.

These entities provide coordination and oversight, ensuring that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) collaborate effectively to deliver social investment and crime‑prevention programmes in volatile and vulnerable communities across the island.

“The challenge is to pull it all together and make it a holistic approach as possible, and make sure that we can transform the society and the 105 communities that we are working on as effectively as we have done in reducing violence to increase productivity, wealth and a better quality of life and provide a model that can, in fact, help many citizens across the Americas,” he said.

For her part, Ambassador of the European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Dr. Erja Askola, said the Citizen Security Plan remains vital in supporting Jamaica’s most vulnerable communities, preventing crime and violence, and restoring public trust, particularly in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

“We are now closing the first phase of our collaboration that started four years ago. The EU has provided over J$3.5 billion, which is roughly equivalent to €20 million, in budget support and technical assistance to Jamaica’s Citizen Security Plan. But, thankfully, this is not the end of our cooperation in this area.

“We will continue to work together on this top priority of our partnership; for this purpose, an additional J$1.5 billion, roughly equivalent to €8.8 million of financial support, will be provided. This will allow us to take into account also the new context of post-disaster, different needs that are arising in this difficult context,” she said.

Ambassador Askola highlighted several achievements of the programme, including the renovation of police stations, the creation of safe spaces for children, youth, and vulnerable groups, the expansion of learning and psychosocial activities in schools, and increased vocational training opportunities for at‑risk youth.