KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a landmark address at the 20th ‘Heal the Family, Heal the Nation’ Day of Prayer Service, Prime Minister Andrew Holness issued a compelling appeal for ecclesiastical collaboration in Jamaica’s ongoing battle against violent crime. Speaking at Power of Faith Ministries in Portmore, St Catherine, the leader outlined an ambitious strategy to transform religious institutions into active participants in crime prevention.
The nation has achieved a notable milestone with fewer than 700 homicides recorded in 2025—the lowest figure in thirty-one years. Despite this progress, the administration remains focused on an even more ambitious objective: reducing murder rates to match the regional standard of 15 per 100,000 residents. Current statistics indicate the nation is approaching this benchmark, with rates now dipping below 25 per 100,000.
Holness emphasized that achieving this goal requires addressing the root causes of social violence, including domestic altercations, intimate partner conflicts, and neighborhood disputes that frequently escalate into fatal encounters. “We require the church’s assistance beyond spiritual support—we need concrete action,” he asserted. “Society must hear from pulpits everywhere that violence is unacceptable as a conflict resolution mechanism.”
The Prime Minister highlighted the unique positioning of religious organizations to implement immediate intervention strategies. Churches can offer counseling services and diversion programs to at-risk youth before they become entangled in criminal networks. “Many young people in our communities could just as easily join church choirs as they might join gangs,” Holness observed. “The difference often lies in which group extends the invitation first. We need the church’s army to redirect these youngsters toward positive alternatives.”
Holness envisions a collaborative framework where religious institutions work alongside law enforcement and military units to foster what he defines as true peace: the capability to resolve disagreements without violence. He additionally called for prayers to influence those involved in criminal enterprises, urging them to abandon violence and voluntarily surrender their weapons.
The event, organized by Power of Faith Ministries International under the theme ‘Reunite and Build the Family with Love and Forgiveness’, coincided with Jamaica’s sixth Annual National Day of Prayer, underscoring the government’s commitment to integrating spiritual approaches with security policy.