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Project STAR reported the halving of major crimes in communities in which it intervened, according to its first-quarter report for the period ending August 2024.
It also provided 100 residents with job opportunities over three months.
“STAR communities reported a total of 13 major crimes, a significant decrease from 28 in the same period last year, reflecting a 54 per cent reduction,” stated the report from the project, which operates in mostly inner-city communities.
The quarterly period under review spanned June to August 2024. The halving of serious crime aligns with the major goal of the project, which seeks to reduce major crime rates by 40 per cent on a sustained level. It’s unclear if the quarterly reduction was sustained or a one-off, as the annual report ending in May 2024 did not disclose the crime metrics. Project STAR seeks to address the root causes of crime and violence at multiple levels in a ‘whole-of-society’ approach by focusing on the improvement of key social indicators and the overall improvement of social outcomes for communities, the report stated.
The STAR acronym is short for ‘Social Transformation and Renewal’. The entity was convened in 2021 and operationalised in 2022 by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The initiative has raised some $200 million to date, according to Jamaica Social Stock Exchange data. The project focuses on community-led action, partnership for development, social cohesion, and local economic development.
“We will continue to adapt and refine our interventions – based on the data and our learnings – as the STAR project moves forward in our target communities,” the report stated. “There’s also an ongoing need to re-engage residents to ensure we align with their needs and support their progress in jobs and programmes.”
Project STAR intervenes in five communities: Parade Gardens, Rose Gardens, May Pen West, Savanna-la-Mar, and Salt Spring. The initial results are promising, with overall crime trending downwards in STAR communities, it reasoned.
For instance, May Pen West has reported crime rates fluctuating between low and moderate, with three crimes this quarter. While these numbers are low, the area’s proximity to significant crime events may influence the data, the management stated. Parade Gardens, on the other hand, reported five crimes in the quarter, showing higher crime rates than other areas.
“Despite previous fluctuations, no clear trend has yet emerged,” Project STAR said.
Both Rose Gardens and Salt Spring have shown variable crime rates that are now trending downwards. Rose Gardens reported three incidents this quarter, including two months with no crimes, while Salt Spring had two reported crimes over the same period. Meanwhile, Savanna-la-Mar continues to enjoy very low crime rates, with one crime reported in the last three months and up to 11 consecutive months without additional incidents, reinforcing a trend of stability and low activity, the social agency stated.
The priority issues in these communities include addressing weak family structures, poor parenting, high unemployment, and low educational outcomes. Each community has individual needs, and up to the quarter, management was still evaluating the needs of Salt Spring.
Project STAR’s impact extends beyond crime reduction. Over 1,000 persons have accessed benefits under the STAR programme over the years of operation. During the quarter, however, key initiatives included the Music Studio Development Initiative in Parade Gardens, which involved four meetings with the Wet Workz team and resulted in the securing of a grant for $500,000. The community round robins in Parade Gardens created opportunities for local businesses to sell their products, with 28 service providers benefiting so far. HEART/NSTA Trust, the state-led training entity, hosted two days of in-person business planning sessions for training programme participants. Additionally, the At-Risk Youth Nano Grant Programme in Savanna-la-Mar held a grant handover ceremony, donating equipment to five of the 10 at-risk youth involved.
In terms of financial inclusion, STAR partnered with JN Bank to host a financial onboarding session in Savanna-la-Mar. Fourteen participants, including business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, opened bank accounts and learnt about saving and investment strategies. A financial inclusion session was also conducted, with 14 youth and adults learning the importance of opening bank accounts.
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