Members of the Jamaican diaspora are deeply concerned about the current crime figures and say a multiplicity of interventions need to be employed to effect change.

More than 700 Jamaicans have been killed since the start of the year, causing alarm here and overseas.

Irwin Clare, director of the Queens, New York-based, non-profit Caribbean Immigrant Services, told The Gleaner yesterday that many in the diaspora with whom he has spoken have expressed reservations about Jamaica.

Significant loss

"Hard-core, patriotic persons those things (crime) won't stop, but Jamaicans are losing out on a significant amount of retirees and returning residents that would also buttress the bottom line economically," he said.

Clare told The Gleaner the current crime statistics overshadow the good work being done by Jamaicans all across the world.

Clare is calling for crime to make up the core of the discussions at the Jamaican Diaspora Conference this month.

"I hope that the delegates at the conference next week don't just come with grandiose ideas, but realise that before anything can come forth, we have something to do about this crime business," he added.

Percival LaTouche, president of the Caribbean Association for Returning Residents, has called for Jamaicans to take crime seriously. In this regard, he called for the authorities to fix the justice system and not to compromise with crime-fighting strategies.

"We don't see any hindering to the crime at this time. All we are seeing is pure talk, pure talk, pure talk, the law is not being enforced as it should ... . We are joking with crime in this country," he declared.

LaTouche said crime was having a negative effect on Jamaicans who are now afraid of returning to the country.

Clare is calling for all stakeholders within and outside Jamaica to come together and work towards a solution to the crime problem within the country. Specifically, he beckoned for opportunities to be created for the youths who are most affected by crime.

"There are serious problems in the inner cities in Jamaica; the opportunities for youngsters are not there, we need to develop more opportunities for our youngsters," he noted.

"Maybe we now need to use this diaspora bond primarily for setting up either small business enterprises, opportunities for the youngsters to be trained to be provided with skills so that they can be engaged economically."

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com