Major crimes declined in the five communities served by Project STAR during the quarter ended November 2025, compared with the previous quarter, underscoring the impact of the social and economic development initiative now in its fourth year.
The decline came amid the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
“Project STAR mounted a rapid emergency relief operation, delivering cooked meals, drinking water, food packages, hygiene supplies, tarpaulins, zinc sheets, ply boards, and other essential building materials,” Project Director Saffrey Brown said in the report. “Within four weeks of the disaster, relief efforts reached an estimated 8,372 individuals across affected communities.”
At the same time, the number of residents trained for jobs fell though formal job placements rose. Project STAR’s quarterly report shows 19 major crimes were reported in the September–November period, down from 22 in the prior quarter. Major crimes include murder, shootings, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.
Job-readiness training also dipped, with 116 participants enrolled in HEART/NSTA Trust and partner courses, compared with 142 in the June–August quarter. Formal job placements, however, increased to 78, up from 61.
Other indicators showed gains. Youth engagement in sports and leadership programmes rose to 408, compared with 295 in the previous quarter. Students supported through remedial or afte- school programmes increased to 115, up from 107.
Project STAR was forced to adjust operations during the quarter due to Hurricane Melissa and Jamaica’s general election. The Category 5 hurricane struck on October 28, causing widespread damage in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, and Salt Spring, St James – two of STAR’s five target communities. The other three are May Pen, Clarendon, and Rose Gardens and Parade Gardens in downtown Kingston.
Project STAR was launched by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to drive community-led transformation in underresourced areas. It is listed on the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE).
Of the 12 projects listed on the JSSE, Project STAR is the most successful fundraiser, having raised more than $199 million of its $250 million target. It is followed by Praise Jamaica’s Love Changes Lives project, which has raised $8.8 million of its $17 million target. Two projects – Mona Tech Engineering Support and Teen Challenge Jamaica – have already achieved their funding goals.
luke.douglas@gleanerjm.com
