At least 35 children have been murder so far this year, according to figures released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
The JCF said that for the period January 1 to August, Jamaica recorded 928 murders.
It said that 35 children, 11 more than for the same period last year, were killed, with St. James, a suburban parish, located on the north-west end of the island, recording the highest number of child murders with eight.
The figures from the JCF’s Statistics and Information Management Unit showed the capital Kingston and Hanover, a parish located on the northwestern tip of the island each recorded five child murders, while child murders ranging from one death to four, were also recorded in St Elizabeth, Manchester, St Ann, Westmoreland, St Andrew as well as St Catherine and Clarendon for the period.
The police record also showed that 13 children were killed in road traffic accidents up to August 12, down from the 17 recorded in 2016.
Last year, Jamaica recorded 1,350 murders with the police claiming that 65 percent of these murders were linked to gangs.
Source: Caribbean News Service