The year 2023 has got off to a terrible start with high levels of criminality gripping the country.

The emphasis tends to be placed on the murder rate and the perpetrators of larceny, violence and theft more often than not come from the lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Now there are more incidents of fraud from white-collar professionals particularly from banks and investment houses not to mention the increase in scamming and cyber crime.

Today, in Jamaica, not even your money is safe residing at an institution that is secure with your funds readily available to be accessed – just ask sprint legend Usain Bolt.

The Government has insisted on increasing the enforcement of the states of emergency (SOEs) across the country as a measure to suppress rampant violent crime in Jamaica.

Opposition Spokesperson on National Security, Senator Peter Bunting is stressing that this approach is in effect not a crime prevention and detection solution but rather a detention mechanism (net fishing) that does not address the insidious problem of widespread crime.

Last week, at an address to the country along with the Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding and the Opposition Spokesperson on Finance Julian Robinson,Bunting referenced data, revealing that from 2016 the Government has spent considerably more on national security and policing yet crime and murder has escalated, thus unable to provide a return on investment for Jamaica.

Bunting is calling for the Government to immediately institute two actions:

1. Recruit more police personnel, put more boots on the ground and see to it that they are well trained.
2. Pay the police more. Ensure they have a reasonable salary and pay closer attention to their welfare.