In a significant political development, Government Senator Keith Duncan has publicly articulated his rationale for endorsing the Jamaica Labour Party Administration’s crime prevention blueprint, despite his lineage to the opposing People’s National Party. The revelation came during Friday’s Senate session where Duncan detailed his conversion after intensive consultations with National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang and former Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson.
Duncan, appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Andrew Holness following the September general elections, recalled his initial skepticism during his 2019 tenure as president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). Amid widespread criticism about the government’s perceived lack of strategic direction against crime, Duncan sought direct engagement with security leadership rather than joining popular criticism.
The senator described being presented with the comprehensive ‘Plan Secure Jamaica’ framework, which outlined multi-faceted approaches including social transformation initiatives, modernization of police forces, military reforms, and legislative enhancements. Duncan emphasized the plan’s detailed resource allocation strategies covering both financial investments and human capital deployment.
Central to Duncan’s endorsement was the creation of Project Star – a public-private partnership developed collaboratively with police leadership that operationalized community safety measures through the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Community Safety and Security Branch. The senator specifically highlighted the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOS) as evidence of structured socio-economic transformation efforts in vulnerable communities.
Citing unprecedented crime reduction statistics showing murders dropping below 700 annually for the first time in three decades – representing over 40% reduction compared to previous years – Duncan urged nationwide support for the continuation of these strategies. He framed crime reduction as a national imperative requiring collective action similar to Jamaica’s achievement of macroeconomic stability through fiscal responsibility.
The senator acknowledged that not all security measures would enjoy universal approval but maintained that governing requires making difficult decisions. Duncan concluded that demonstrated leadership in executing this comprehensive strategy has produced measurable results that justify sustained implementation and broader societal support.