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Poverty to Prosperity
Budget Presentation
Gordon House March 19, 2015
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and the Lottery Scam, and opportunities for corruption and; extortion, all of which have
encouraged the use of violence by criminals.”
Mr. Speaker, the document continues: “these problems have been compounded by the
creation of garrison communities; the misappropriation of public funds; links between
politics and organized crime and the laundering of the proceeds of crime into legitimate
businesses. Criminal Gangs have created an environment of fear, which enables them to
extort money, coerce and control communities and intimidate people into silence.”
Several studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between crime, violence and
corruption and the lack of economic growth and development in Jamaica. Some studies
suggest that Jamaica‟s GDP would be at least 5% higher were it not for the effects, injuries
and associated healthcare costs, higher costs of doing business in a low confidence
environment, losses due to theft and extortion, business closures, capital flight, migration of
skilled workers and the loss of foreign investments due to crime.
Growth Mr. Speaker, is a national security priority. National security is key to our vision for
Moving Jamaica from Poverty to Prosperity.
We support the ongoing efforts of the police to dismantle criminal organizations, disrupt
their operations, seize their assets, sever their political connections and permanently
diminish their ability to commit serious crimes.
The police must continue to build public confidence because public support is
one of the most effective tools in the fight against crime.