On Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24, 2025, the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), in collaboration with the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Community Safety and Security Branch, conducted community engagement activities in Grange Hill, Westmoreland, and Norwood, St. James, respectively as part of the newly launched Comm-Unity Resilience and Transformation (CREATE) Project. The activities aimed to strengthen stakeholder engagement and buy-in for the initiative, ensuring that local knowledge and expertise inform the development and implementation of the project’s activities.
A wide range of stakeholders participated in the activities, including youth, representatives from community development committees, the Social Development Commission, schools, churches, and various community-based organizations. They shared insights on local challenges and solutions while validating the project’s proposed activities.
The Honourable Dr. Horace Chang, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Security, and Member of Parliament for Norwood (St. James North Western) also took part in the walk-through of the community, offering his perspectives and expressing support for the initiative.
Encouragingly, Norwood has recorded no homicides since the start of 2025—an achievement that reflects the positive impact of ongoing community engagement and law enforcement initiatives.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), over the next two years, the CREATE Project will implement evidence-based, multistakeholder responses against crime and violence in the communities of Parade Gardens (Kingston), Majesty Gardens (St. Andrew), Gregory Park (St. Catherine), Norwood (St. James), and Grange Hill (Westmoreland).