Government Senator Abka Fitz-Henley is rejecting as untruthful and dishonest a claim by Opposition Spokesman on Security, Peter Bunting, that the Andrew Holness-led Government deserves no credit for the 44.2 per cent decline in murders this year.

Bunting made the claim recently on the political platform and doubled down on social media over the weekend. The Opposition Spokesman wrote: “Let us be clear, the reduction in murders is not because of the JLP administration, it is in spite of them.”

Fitz-Henley says the bravery and skill of members of the security forces, supported by the unprecedented and major investments in national security and strategic policy-making of the government, have combined well to ensure positive outcomes.

Fitz-Henley says Bunting’s audacious attempt at spin is unbecoming and disengenuous, particularly so “coming from an individual, who when he was Security Minister presided over a cumulative six per cent spike in murders and who, when murders spiralled under his watch, sobbed and lamented that the statistics were poor despite best efforts.

The senator says the Opposition Spokesman is simply embarrassed that the PNP’s repeated claim that the government does not have a crime plan has proven to be false.

Fitz-Henley says passage of laws including the Zones of Special Operation, amendments to the anti-gang law and firearms act, along with a raft of other strategic policy initiatives, have contributed heavily to the 44-per-cent decline in murders.

Fitz-Henley says it is noteworthy that the government of the Jamaica Labour Party has invested over $80 billion in national security compared to $28 billion, which was invested by the former PNP administration.

The senator says the superior investment by the Holness administration has been made possible by good management of the economy. However, Fitz-Henley says the Holness-led administration has not merely thrown money at the problem.

Among the strategic policy initiatives implemented by the Holness-led Government are:

• Tabling in Parliament a comprehensive strategic document called Plan Secure Jamaica.
• Massive improvement in the intelligence capability of the security forces.
• Significant expansion in numbers in the JCF/JDF.
• Major investment in technology being used by the security forces.
• Passage of strong legislation, including ZOSO, along with amendments to Anti-Gang Law & Firearms Act.
• Strong policy support for the security forces to defend themselves when they are confronted by gunmen
• Preparedness to use States of Public Emergencies to address major threats to national security and to save lives
• Investment of billions of dollars in border protection and detection mechanisms to stem the flow of illegal guns and other contraband into Jamaica.