By Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
Dr. Mirta Roses-Periago (left), Director of the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), talks with Dr. Peter Phillips (right), Minister of National Security, and Dr. Manuel Peña, the PAHO/World Health Organisation Representative in Jamaica during a session break yesterday on the first day of a two-day International Conference on Violence Prevention. The conference is taking place at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Duke Street, downtown Kingston. - Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer
HOMICIDE IS the fifth leading cause of death in Jamaica after cancer and lifestyle-related illnesses such as heart and cerebro-vascular diseases like stroke and diabetes.
Dr. Peter Phillips, the National Security Minister, disclosed this yesterday at the start of a two-day International Conference on Violence Prevention being held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Duke Street, downtown Kingston.
He lamented the rise in organised crime, interpersonal conflict and other violent acts, which, various presenters said, were costing lives and placing heavy psychological, social and financial burdens on countries like Jamaica.
Jamaica's murder rate of 44 per 100,000 puts it among nations with the highest such rates in the Americas. From January 1 to October 5 this year, 739 people were murdered, almost on par with the 744 slain up to October 5 last year; 1,045 per were murdered in 2002.
Dr. Phillips said countries could not ignore the link between violence, drug trafficking and other organised crime.
He explained that Jamaica was a transhipment point for between 100 and 120 tonnes of cocaine annually. "That is 20 per cent of US demand and 10 per cent of the Colombian trade. So for us, the root of the problem is the illegal drug trade, which spawns and sustains the criminal gangs and the violence," he told the conference which is organised by the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO).
Some 400 local and international medical, violence prevention, child welfare and security professionals are discussing violence from different perspectives and ways to strengthen prevention strategies.
GANGS
They worry that conditions may worsen especially as data provided by Alberto Concha-Eastman, PAHO adviser on Violence, show that more youth in the Americas are joining gangs and graduating to organised crime.
But there are solutions, Dr. Phillips said. His ministry is planning to increase the Jamaica Constabulary by 1,000, bringing the strength to 8,500 to help put Jamaica on par with its Caribbean neighbours. They boast ratios of between 3.2 and 6.9 police officers per 100,000 population. Jamaica's ratio is 2.9 per 100,000.
Greater emphasis would be placed on training police officers in areas such as respecting human rights and boosting community relations, Dr. Phillips said.
Data presented at the conference show most injuries are inflicted by people the victims know. In addition, young males are more likely to become involved in fights with knives or guns but women and girls are also severely affected by domestic violence or sexual abuse. Youth exposure to beatings, domestic abuse, media and community violence may also make them violent, officials worry.
"Up to 30 per cent of the (injury) cases involving women were related to disputes with intimate partners. Among children under 10 years old, boys were affected mainly by physical abuse (beatings with blunt objects) and girls by sexual assault," John Junor, the Health Minister, said.
"The genesis of these violence-related injuries are rooted in behaviour and patterns of socialisation that begin in early life. Understanding these patterns has been the focus of research and analysis to provide evidence to determine the most appropriate interventions and to model the prevention strategy that we have been developing," he added.
