‘Mi nuh fraid a nuh body’ Holness fires warning shot at criminals

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness delivered a defiant message to criminals on Wednesday as he officially handed over seven housing units to a family whose homes were destroyed by arson during gang conflict in Central Kingston.

Standing before residents and beneficiaries, Holness reflected on the community’s painful past while declaring that the Government would not surrender neighbourhoods to criminals.

“I remember when I toured here a few times after some very tragic incidents, you know, some people were of the view that it can never be better. That we can’t deal with the gunmen. That the gunmen have taken over the place. Well, you know me nuh ‘fraid a nobody,” Holness said to loud cheers from residents.

“So, so all of them who believe that dem control place and them lock place and so, forget that,” he said.

The prime minister made the remarks during the handover of the newly constructed units to families who lost everything when their homes were burnt during violence linked to gang activity. He described the beneficiaries as deserving individuals who had endured a difficult period.

“They had a really rough time. They lost their home to arson as a result of gang conflict,” Holness said before presenting the keys.

Using the occasion to urge peace among young people in attendance, the prime minister said life in the community had improved significantly as violent crime declined.

“It is much better to live in peace,” he said, noting that there was a time when many believed conditions in Central Kingston could never improve.

According to Holness, sustained law-enforcement operations have pushed criminals out of communities and contributed to a reduction in murders.

“The criminals do not add value to your community. We must get them out of the community,” he said. “They don’t add value.”

The prime minister argued that lower crime levels have saved lives, particularly among young men who might otherwise have become victims of violence. He also pointed to the wider impact on innocent residents, recalling the case of a family member who died after being devastated by the loss of a home destroyed in the conflict.

Holness said the construction of the new housing units forms part of a broader effort to improve living conditions in inner-city communities.

“It takes one building at a time, saving one life at a time, but it all adds up to an improvement in the quality of your life,” he said.

The prime minister also offered strong backing to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), arguing that Jamaicans should openly support the police’s fight against crime.

“As Jamaicans, we must talk up in support of the JCF. Criminals mustn’t have no say. And there’s this ambivalence in the country, where somehow it’s almost as if people are trying to defend criminality. No, we don’t defend criminals whatsoever. And, if me a the last man to talk against criminals, I am going to stand up and be the last man to talk against criminal,” Holness declared.

Dismissing his critics, Holness said his administration remains focused on delivering results rather than responding to detractors.

“We nuh pay them no mind. We focus on getting our things done, getting the job done, which is what my administration is known for, getting things done,” he said before officially turning over the building to the beneficiaries.