Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared that increased investments will be made to improve national security.

Speaking on Friday (April 26) at the opening of the new Lathbury Barracks Offices and Accommodation at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Up Park Camp, Prime Minister Holness said the Government is recalibrating its efforts to restore order by making the necessary improvements.

Against this background of “clear and present threats” affecting the country, the Prime Minister highlighted that 28 percent of the total capital budget has been allocated to National Security.

“The unconventional threats that we face that is taking the lives of our citizens; increasing number of gangs, dons and guns. That is what we must now recalibrate; our civil defence and national security assets to tackle, and that is what the Government has been doing and that is what I want to convey to the leaders, the strategic thinkers of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) that this is now your new mission because this is now the clear and present danger to our society and the government will make the investment to support you in doing this”, said Prime Minister Holness.

In that regard, the Prime Minister further stated that the JDF is a critical tool in dealing with the unconventional threats to national security. 

In the meantime, Prime Minister Holness lauded the men and women of the JDF for their selfless and effective discharge of duties during the States of Public Emergency and also noted that the country is proud of their efforts.

“We recognize the service that you are doing, we recognize it and we are going to with military precision as you have done in discharging your duties, provide you (with) the resources not just for comfort”, asserted Prime Minister Holness,

The Prime Minister reiterated that further investments will be made in the country’s security services and the public will reap the dividends of those investments.