PORTLAND, Jamaica — Beneath its lush hills and peaceful coastline, Portland is fighting a growing battle: illegal migration and shadowy trade routes are pulling the parish into the heart of a regional crime crisis.
National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang recently confirmed that Portland has become a vulnerable entryway for Haitian migrants escaping turmoil back home. But it’s not just desperate families arriving — it’s what travels with them that’s sounding alarms.
“This is not just migration — it’s organized crime,” Chang said during a Friday security briefing. “Portland is being exploited by networks trafficking guns, drugs, and violence.”
According to authorities, small boats from Haiti have been slipping through Jamaica’s eastern waters, turning Portland into an unplanned hub for illegal exchanges. Officials say arms arrive hidden in these vessels, fueling gang violence locally, while marijuana and cocaine are trafficked back across the sea.
In recent months, the coast guard has stepped up its patrols, intercepting several incoming boats before they made landfall. Still, the minister admits the operations are costly and constant — and some vessels do slip through.
The consequences are already being felt: Portland, long considered one of Jamaica’s safest parishes, has recorded a sharp increase in homicides this year — seven murders by early April, nearly matching half of 2024’s full tally.
Dr. Kevin Blake, Jamaica’s Commissioner of Police, warned that early signs of violent destabilization must not be ignored. “Other regions that began this way now face chronic violence. We will not allow Portland to fall into that cycle.”
Among the incidents directly linked to the migration crisis: a fatal altercation between two Haitian nationals in Windsor Forrest and a series of armed disputes tied to illegal firearms. Authorities say many of the smuggled weapons are bought by local scammers seeking protection — an arrangement that often ends in bloodshed if deals sour.
In response, the government is fast-tracking the installation of surveillance cameras under the Jamaica Eye programme, prioritizing Port Antonio and surrounding communities. “Monitoring is critical,” Chang emphasized. “We must stay ahead of these criminal networks.”
Meanwhile, local Member of Parliament Ann-Marie Vaz has urged residents to support law enforcement efforts. “Security is everyone’s responsibility. We must preserve Portland’s peace — together.”
As authorities move to tighten maritime security and expand community policing, Portland finds itself on the frontlines of a new kind of battle — not just against crime, but to protect its very identity.
