Jamaica's major private sector groups are urging the government and opposition to end their combative utterances on crime and channel their efforts towards expediting the national consensus on crime. In a media release Thursday, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) and Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) said they continue to be concerned that, despite efforts, crime remains at crisis levels. They note that in late October, they joined the two political parties and many other civic groups in committing to attaining a National Consensus on Crime. However, they say in recent times the discourse has moved away from being collaborative and there is a heightened level of political rhetoric building about the state of crime in the country. They are urging the leaders of both sides to keep their teams focused on taking a joint position and expediting efforts to identify the steps needed to reduce violence and crime.