Bunting says PM downplaying mass shooting incidents

Shadow spokesman on Citizen Security, Peter Bunting, is accusing Prime Minister Andrew Holness of seeking to downplay the latest mass shooting in the Waltham Park Road area of St Andrew, which claimed five lives.

Bunting is criticising Holness' characterisation of these killings as a “multiple victim violent incident”, calling it a "euphemistic attempt to downplay the frequent incidents of mass shootings scarring Jamaica's international image and devastating many local communities."

“The Prime Minister's minimisation of the horrific incident is a disservice to the victims and their grieving families. No amount of public relations spin can obscure the grim reality of an increasing trend of mass shootings in our nation," he continued.

Bunting also pointed out that as at November 25, the country's murder count stood at 1,045 "unfortunately rubbishing  the Prime Minister's recent projection that '…we are on track to record fewer than 1,000 murders by year's end'.”

The projection was made in a Sunday Gleaner column written by Holness and published on November 3.

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"With five weeks remaining in 2024, the rising figures underscore the failure of the Andrew Holness Administration to deliver on promises of people sleeping with their windows and doors open," Bunting said.

Bunting also questioned the "completeness" of Jamaica's murder statistics.

"Reports suggest that between 100 - 200 deaths are currently categorised as 'undetermined' though many of those will ultimately be adjudged to be homicides. The Jamaican people deserve full and prompt disclosure from the government in this regard,” Bunting said.