The president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, Davon Crump says he hopes the downward trend in murders in St. James will boost business and tourism confidence in Montego Bay.

The Minister of National Security, Peter Bunting has reported a 60 per cent decline in murders in St. James over the last seven weeks.

Crump said this is welcome news for the upcoming winter tourist season, saying that the second city has been developing a bad reputation as it relates to crime.

As of September this year, 123 persons were murdered in the parish.

The parish also came into focus when four women and an eight-year-old girl were raped in St. James.

Like our new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/gleanerjamaica

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/JamaicaGleaner

radio@gleanerjm.com