‘Every life has value’

While celebrating sharp reductions in murders, shootings, and robberies in St Andrew North Central, Member of Parliament (MP) Delano Seiveright has urged Jamaicans to balance support for the police with accountability and respect for human life.

Seiveright, who represents the constituency, told the House of Representatives on Tuesday, during his contribution to the Constituency Debate, that murders and shootings across the St Andrew North Police Division had fallen by 70 per cent as at October 11, while robberies declined by 60 per cent and break-ins by 50 per cent.

He credited the reductions to the Government’s leadership and the work of the security forces, but argued that improvements in public safety must not weaken the need for independent oversight when people die in circumstances involving State institutions.