Nearly 600 people were murdered in Jamaica during the first six months of this year. Figures released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force show that between the period January 1 to June 3, a total of 585 people were murdered representing a 16 percent increase over the corresponding period last year. 136 people were killed during the month of May. In the first three days of this month, 5 people have already been murdered. The opposition blamed the two-billion dollar reduction in the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of National Security for the upsurge in criminal activity.