Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, nicknamed the Bird's Nest, during the closing ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Sunday. Jamaica claimed its biggest ever medal haul in Games history. - AP

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has challenged lawbreakers and thugs to put an end to violent crime, which threatens to embarrass the nation in the wake of Jamaica's historic success at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Speaking during a broadcast to the nation last night, Golding said rampant criminality had tainted the nation's reputation for too long.

"You gunman, you rapist, you bad man - you are spoiling the show, you are 'colting' the game," he said.

"Get with the programme. We are the best in the world. Stop trying to make us look like we are the baddest in the world."

The prime minister said Jamaica's athletes did not deserve to be embarrassed on the world stage, in their moment of glory, by the country's high murder rate.

"Let us use this moment, this unprecedented display of world-class excellence, this moment of triumph and glory, to unite as a people," Golding implored.

Futile efforts

But it is unclear whether Golding's plea will gain any traction in reversing a spike in murders this year as homicides have hurtled past the 1,000 mark.

Despite commitments during its successful election campaign in 2007 to curb murder, the Jamaica Labour Party's efforts to leash the crime beast have proven futile, as this year's murder toll could rival 2005's, the bloodiest year on record.

Crime plans and replacement of the national security minister have also failed to stanch the bloodletting.

Finishing third with 11 medals onthe athletics table, behind the United States and Russia, Jamaica's stellar squad secured its biggest ever Olympic haul.

During last night's broadcast, Golding also reiterated that the athletes would be honoured in grand fashion when they all returned home. The majority of the athletes are not expected back in the island until sometime in September.

Sprint star Bolt is set to compete in the 100m at the Weltklasse meet in Zurich, Switzerland, this Friday and will be running the 200m at the September 2 Athletissima meet in another Swiss city, Lausanne.