File photo of National Security Minister Dr Horace Change addressing journalists at a press conference.
Government is projecting to spend up to US$1.2 billion (J$176 billion) to fight crime under Plan Secure Jamaica over seven years between 2016 and 2023, according to National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang.
It s a big price tag for crimefighting in the island which now has the dubious distinction of being ranked the murder capital of the Latin America and Caribbean region.
Speaking during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Chang said the projected medium term spend to strengthen the country’s national security architecture between 2016/17 and 2022/23 is US$346.7 million. However, he cautioned that because of the major fallout in the economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, these figures may be revisited.