PM Holness announces $25 million reward fund for information on Cherry Tree Lane massacre

Kingston, Jamaica – In a determined effort to bring the perpetrators of Sunday’s deadly Cherry Tree Lane massacre to justice, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has unveiled a $25 million reward fund to incentivize members of the public to provide credible information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday.

The brutal attack in Cherry Tree Lane, Clarendon, left eight people dead and at least 10 others injured, sparking outrage and a nationwide call for justice. The government’s new fund is a strategic move to empower members of the public to help dismantle the criminal networks behind such violent acts.

Prime Minister Holness outlined how the fund would be distributed:

• $6 million is designated for information directly leading to the arrest and indictment of suspects involved in the massacre. Individuals who provide valuable tips could each receive up to $1 million.
• $5 million is set aside to reward those who provide information leading to the arrest and indictment of facilitators involved in the gun attack. This includes those who provided weapons, access to vehicles, or organized the attack. Rewards in this category can be up to $1.5 million per person.
• $4 million are being disseminated for information that could lead to the seizure of firearms used in the killings or information about the network responsible for supplying the weapons.
• $5 million is intended for tips that could lead to securing evidence against gangs involved in the attack.
• An extra $5 million is available for information leading to the arrest and indictment of anyone harboring criminal gangs or their accomplices. Rewards of up to $800,000 per person may be offered.

“We are particularly interested in the facilitators and the organizers – those who supplied the weapons, provided access and ammunition, organized the logistics, made the phone calls and established the connections,” Holness said, stressing that the government is focused on dismantling the entire network involved in the massacre.

Citizens are encouraged to report information through the following channels:

• Crime Stop: 311
• Police emergency: 119
• National Investigation Agency tip line: 811
• MOCA tip line: 888-662-2847
• Jamaica Defence Force tip line: 837-8888

The Prime Minister’s initiative reflects a broader strategy to tackle the remaining 185 gangs operating in Jamaica. By offering significant financial rewards for actionable intelligence, the government hopes to accelerate the dismantling of these criminal groups and restore safety to communities devastated by gang violence.