More Than 100 People Murdered In Jamaica Last Month

KINGSTON, Jamaica, February 3, 2020 (CMC) – More than 100 people were murdered during the first month of this year, according to figures released, here.

The figures show that at the end of January, 116 people were murdered, an eight percent increase over the corresponding period last year, when 104 persons were killed.

The figures show that nine women and three children were among the 116 victims. Last week, 35 people were killed, here. The killings come, despite the imposition of states of emergency, in almost half the police divisions across Jamaica.

Three of the eight divisions under states of emergency have shown increases, namely, St. Andrew South, St. Catherine South, and Kingston Eastern, the latter having been imposed only a week ago.

Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, has said that his administration is committed to bringing the homicide rate down, but argues that the high number of murders facing the country now, did not happen overnight.

Last year, Jamaica recorded more than 1,326 murders, a 3.4 percent increase over the 2018 figure.