Homicides down across Jamaica

[PILOT]

Homicide continues to drop
published: Saturday | April 8, 2006

Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter


Despite a reported downswing in crime, the gun remains the number one weapon of choice. - File


JAMAICA'S HOMICIDE rate continued its downward trend for a third consecutive month in March. However the Corporate Area and St. Catherine which have recorded the highest number of murders over the past five years, remain the major killing fields.

Of the 313 persons murdered up to the end of March, 209 of the victims were killed in the Corporate Area and St. Catherine. The parishes with the least number of murders so far are; St. Ann with six, Trelawny five, St. Elizabeth four, St. Mary three and Hanover and Portland two each.

For the corresponding period last year the country's murder rate stood at a staggering 418. For the same period in 2004, the figure was 277. According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) crime review, the police are yet to establish the motive for 195 of the murders. The motive for another 99 have been categorised as "other criminal acts', which include reprisals and robberies.

GUN STILL WEAPON OF CHOICE

The gun continues to be the most popular murder weapon. Statistics released by the police indicate that 228 of the victims were killed by the gun, another 49 were stabbed while 10 were chopped to death. One person was killed by ice pick and 24 were murdered by other implements.

Up to the end of March, the police had seized 184 illegal guns, five fewer than the number seized during the corresponding period last year.

Major Crimes
2006 2005
Murder 313 419
Shooting 284 436
Rape 149 185
Carnal Abuse 76 71
Robbery 533 492
Breaking 295 415
Larceny 28 42

[PILOT]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

More cops for Spanish Town
Churches pray that God will silence guns
Observer Reporter
Thursday, April 06, 2006



This woman prays for the bloodshed to end in Spanish Town yesterday during an all-day prayer vigil at the Spanish Town Prison Oval. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

The police yesterday started deploying extra troops into violence-torn Spanish Town on the same day that an estimated 5,000 persons prayed for an end to the intermittent bloodshed that has claimed at least 17 lives over the past two weeks.

But with police and soldiers already posted in other trouble spots across the capital, it was unclear how many law enforcement officers could be sent to the old capital.

"What has to be done is to. shift resources from one area to another on the basis of priority," Acting Commissioner of Police Charles Scarlett told the Observer late yesterday evening, after a meeting between the police top brass and the Spanish Town business community at Twickenham Park on the outskirts of the historic town.

"An increase in police presence can be expected in the town, and we will stay the course until the town returns to normal," added Scarlett, who will today resume his duties as a deputy commissioner on the return to office of Commissioner Lucius Thomas, who was abroad.

Spanish Town Chamber of Commerce President Dennis Robotham emerged from the same meeting expressing confidence in the police plan.

"We are satisfied that something can be worked out for the peace of Spanish Town" he told the Observer. "Based on the response of Acting Commissioner Scarlett, I believe we can look forward to change immediately."

According to Robotham, the police need to maintain a sustained presence in the town. "We cannot afford to have police on the streets whenever there is a crime for the first two days, and after that none can be seen" he said.

Spanish Town has been affected by sporadic violence for some time now as rival gangs - the Clansman, who support the ruling People's National Party and the One Order, who are aligned to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party - fight for turf and control of a lucrative extortion business in the town.

With frustration mounting over the bloodletting, the Power of Faith Ministries - in association with the Jamaica Full Gospel Assemblies - staged an all-day prayer vigil at the Spanish Town Prison Oval in the town yesterday.

According to Spanish Town ministers fraternal chairman Bishop Rowan Edwards, the Full Gospel Assemblies believe Spanish Town and Jamaica are under a curse which must be broken.

He urged Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to call a national gathering of churches and Christians at the National Stadium to ask God for deliverance from the scourge of crime and violence. Yesterday's day of prayer, he said, was for the healing of the nation and to send a signal to criminals that the violence and carnage must stop.

"We want to take this service of prayer nationally. We want a united gathering of every church to meet at the National Stadium to spend a day crying out to God," said Bishop Edwards. "What we are doing here today is for the Spanish Town community, but we want to take it nationally to the National Stadium where the prime minister herself would call the gathering and say let's go before God for help."

Since her March 30 inauguration as Jamaica's seventh prime minister, Simpson Miller has been reaching out to the church community, asking them to play a more active role in governance and has said she would order the inclusion of pastors on the boards of state agencies.

"The PM is calling on the name of God so much, I think that the quicker she gets it done the better it will be," Bishop Edwards said of his proposed gathering of churches.

During yesterday's vigil, aptly titled 'Heal the family, heal the nation, curse the curse', Opposition member of parliament for Central St Catherine, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, was overcome by emotion as she condemned the recent spate of murders.

Grange, whose constituency includes sections of Spanish Town, was in the middle of an address to the worshippers when she stopped talking for about a minute, held down her head and appeared to be crying. Nearly the entire congregation, housed under two large tents and spilling over onto the grounds, began shouting "hallelujah" and "praise the Lord".

Grange resumed speaking after being consoled by Spanish Town mayor Dr Andrew Wheatley, who was among the guests on the platform,

"I condemn fully the murders that have been taking place in Spanish Town," Grange said. "I totally condemn it. It doesn't matter who is doing it, it doesn't matter what side is doing it or if all sides are doing it. I condemn it unreservedly. I am appealing for it to stop now."

The ministers who addressed the vigil said that the Devil was let loose like a roaring lion in Spanish Town and encouraged prayers for restoration and spiritual deliverance. They called on political leaders to publicly denounce violence and tribalism and asked God to penetrate the Clansman and One Order gangs and silence them.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica


The police and the media are in collusion to fool up themselves. Murders drop but it is against the year before that was a disputed figure (because the stats were not released, but a figure was just magically given at the end of the year), but nonetheless was a record.

The police should just do their work and shut up.

[PILOT]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

Jamaica has been tabbed the world's most homicidal country since reporting 1,674 killings last year, a rate of 62 per 100,000 residents. The country had ranked third in the most recent U.N. global assessment, in 2000, with 32 per 100,000, behind Colombia's 61 and South Africa's 49. By contrast, anarchic Haiti, usually seen as the most unstable country in the Caribbean, had fewer than 20 homicides per 100,000 last year.

Jamaica's shootings, stabbings and rapes mostly occur in Kingston, but bystanders and even tourists may be at greater risk as the incidence increases.

Jamaica's reputed homicide title coincided, surprisingly, with a record year for tourism, with 2.5 million foreign visitors to the island. Only two of the homicide victims were tourists, but analysts say the violence, even if largely confined to the capital, threatens to take a toll on the island's image.

"As their reputation as having the highest per capita murder rate in the world gets out there, it will give people pause to consider whether they want to come to Jamaica for vacation or go to Cancun or the Dominican Republic instead," said a Western diplomat who cited government policy in declining to be identified. He said the governments of the United States, Canada and Britain, whose citizens account for more than 90% of Jamaican tourism, might have to consider traveler advisories if the violence worsened.

"It is a threat, of course, in the sense that having the crime problem that we do creates a perception that the destination is not safe. But we have been working to ensure that potential visitors to Jamaica are aware that it is quite safe," said Paul Pennycook, director of the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Rise In Bloodshed beclouds Caribbean paradise

[sophiadieheart]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

Pennycook need fi open him eyes a little wider.

[Q3210]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

Jamaica has many loose floorboards and for it to be inviting visitors risking them losing their footing as they walk aloofly is another act of contempt on people for the thought of making money.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

[ QUOTE ]
More cops for Spanish Town
Churches pray that God will silence guns
Observer Reporter
Thursday, April 06, 2006



This woman prays for the bloodshed to end in Spanish Town yesterday during an all-day prayer vigil at the Spanish Town Prison Oval. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

[/ QUOTE ]

Gunmen kill four in betting shop assault

Observer Reporter
Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Four more lives were taken yesterday in the intermittent violence that has plagued Spanish Town for the past three months, pushing to 54 the number of murders reported in the old capital since the start of the year.

Yesterday's murders were committed by a group of gunmen who invaded an Off Track Betting (OTB) outlet at Greendale at about 9:20 am and sprayed the place with bullets.

Police said seven persons were in the OTB at the time of the bloody assault. All seven were hit. Three died on the spot. They are:
. Errol Welsh, 44, of Thompson Pen, Spanish Town;
. Abraham McNaughty, 48, of Jones Avenue, Spanish Town; and
. a man identified only as 'Little Dread', who the police estimate to be in his late 40s.

Thirty-two year-old Everton Pottinger of Thompson Pen, who was among those injured and taken to the Spanish Town Hospital, died at about 1:00 pm.

The police were unable to establish any motive for the shootings, and, up to yesterday evening, were still investigating.

The manager for the betting outlet, who declined to give his name, said he did not believe the attack was a robbery attempt. He was, however, unable to provide any possible reason for the incident. He also could not give an estimate of the losses the shop would suffer because of the attack.

Yesterday's attack brings to at least 11 the number of victims of shooting incidents in Spanish Town over the past three days.
Last Saturday, two girls, both of whom are below the age of six, and two women were shot and injured after gunmen invaded their home at March Pen Road.

The recent outbreaks of violence in Spanish Town were triggered by clashes between rival gangs - the Clansman, which is linked to the ruling People's National Party, and One Order, which supports the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party - over control of a lucrative extortion racket in the town.
Gunmen kill four in betting shop assault

[mangoskin]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

[ QUOTE ]
Spanish Town has been affected by sporadic violence for some time now as rival gangs - the Clansman, who support the ruling People's National Party and the One Order, who are aligned to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party - fight for turf and control of a lucrative extortion business in the town.


[/ QUOTE ]

[remo]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

At the rate they are going there could be another 1400 murders this year( [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70361-embarassed.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70384-praying.gif[/img]

[Tuff Gong]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

[ QUOTE ]
More cops for Spanish Town
Churches pray that God will silence guns
Observer Reporter
Thursday, April 06, 2006

This woman prays for the bloodshed to end in Spanish Town yesterday during an all-day prayer vigil at the Spanish Town Prison Oval. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

[/ QUOTE ]

Wed Apr 26, 2006
Building contractor killed in latest Spanish Town violence

The Spanish Town Police are investigating yet another murder, the fifth in less than 24 hours.
The latest killing took place Wednesday morning when a building contractor was shot and killed in Phase One of the Angels Estates Housing Scheme, located on the outskirts of Spanish Town.

The dead man has been identified as Arthur Smith otherwise called Max.

It is reported that just after 7:00 Wednesday morning, Mr. Smith was sitting in his Toyota Tacoma pick-up on Tadeo Drive when his vehicle was shot up by heavily armed men who were travelling in a white car.

Mr. Smith died on the spot.

Tuesday four men died after gunmen opened fire on a gambling establishment in Greendale.

Following that shooting, members of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) and church groups toured crime-plagued sections of Spanish Town.

PMI Head, Bishop Herro Blair, said during the meetings with members of the various communities, assurances were given that there would not be any reprisal attacks.

Building contractor killed in latest Spanish Town violence

[Q3210]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter

THE ST. Andrew South police have advanced investigations into the murder of a Waterhouse resident, which tragically resulted in the death of a five-year-old girl.

Two young boys were also injured in the sad cycle of events.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Michael Phipps, the officer in charge of crime in St. Andrew South, told The Gleaner yesterday that the police are close to cracking the case.

"We have some good leads and we are working on them," said DSP Phipps. The senior officer was reluctant to release any more information because he believed it would thwart the investigations.

SHOT AND KILLED

On Tuesday Sheridon 'Al Capone' Hibbert, a mechanic, was shot and killed by gunmen from the area while driving his black Toyota Mark II motor car. A bad situation rapidly got worse, as after succumbing to a bullet wound Mr. Hibbert's car slammed into three children.

Shayna Hudson, 5, succumbed to her injuries while the two young boys sustained injuries. One boy's leg was severed after the impact. The other boy is still in hospital nursing injuries.

Sources close to The Gleaner detailed that Mr. Hibbert entered the community via Four Forty Drive, which runs off Seaward Drive. Two young men lured Mr. Hibbert into a conversation as he turned on to Balcombe Drive. While conversing with the men, two other men came from a nearby yard with guns. In a bid to escape, Mr. Hibbert sped off, but it was too late, as he had already been shot. After driving a few chains down the road, Mr. Hibbert, who collapsed over the steering wheel, crashed into the unsuspecting children.

Andrew Holness, Member of Parliament for the West Central St. Andrew constituency, told The Gleaner late yesterday that Shayna's mother was hospitalised due to high blood pressure.

Mr. Holness said he had talks with the family and will be assisting through this period of bereavement.

"I am going to be arranging counselling for them and will be helping with the funeral expenses," he said.

The MP also pointed out that the community was still "very tense and distraught". He added that the police have surmised that the killing was a reprisal for the death of an area leader earlier this year.

[Q3210]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

Glenroy Sinclair and Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Reporters

AT LEAST five statements have already been collected by the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI), which is probing Tuesday night's controversial killing of two men by the police, in the Johnson Pen area of Spanish Town, St. Catherine.

"I have assigned a team to investigate this incident, but I have not got an update from them as yet," Acting Assistant Commissioner Granville Gause told The Gleaner yesterday.

The men have been identified as Marlon Beckford, 26, and Dwayne Fisher, 17, both of a Johnson Pen address.

Residents claimed there was no shoot-out, as was reported by the police. The residents further reported that, about 9:30 p.m., a police party drove into the area and fired several shots, killing the men.

Yesterday the protesting residents mounted a roadblock in the area, but after dialogue with the police, the debris was removed from the roadway. However, by daybreak yesterday another person was killed, this time by gunmen who struck at Angels Estate in Spanish Town.

The killing of Arthur 'Max' Smith came on the heels of Tuesday's incident where four persons were shot and killed at a betting shop in Greendale, Spanish Town, and three others hospitalised in serious condition. It is alleged that Mr. Smith was shot about 20 times.

PERMANENT MILITARY POST

Reacting to the spate of shootings, Monsignor Father Richard Albert, who chaired a Crime Prevention Committee meeting of the St. Catherine Chamber of Commerce yesterday, called for the Government to establish a permanent military post in the Old Capital.

The business interests, which have identified a building they believe could be suitable for the military post, have proposed to cover the rental cost if necessary.

A mass meeting is to be held today between all the stakeholders in Spanish Town. They are scheduled to have discussions with officials from the Ministry of National Security.

Spanish Town's Mayor, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, said the Parish Council has requested a meeting with the Police High Command on May 3.

"We will be clamping down on a number of illegal activities in the town and will be supporting the police," the Mayor said.

One of the objectives is to implement measures to correct the social ills in the crime-infested communities of Spanish Town.

[Hopyoneson]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

I saw story this yesterday and got very upset, the young man was known to speed through the neigborhood also, why dont these parents allow them kids to play outside in the street. One tragedy became even worst because of that, Such tradegy is beyound words.

[Q3210]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

The ghetto is always lined with people on the streets.

[Hopyoneson]

Re: Homicides down across Jamaica

yes, a very sad fact that is not limited to only Jamaica, if you want to know a decent neighborhood drive around and see how much people hang out, if there is too much especially during work hours find another place, still so sad the kids lives are ruined by this, my sister got hit by a car off hope road coming home from Ardenne prep, and it was a friday, to this day I still can eat cherry filling doughnuts, as that was my parents treat for us every friday when they came off work and my sister and I used to eat them up watching tv, that news mash up every body day and I was 6 when this happen. So unfortunately this going to stay with them for a while.