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With 17 murders in St. Catherine South Division and the police in Portmore fighting what many see as a losing battle against criminals, the business people along the popular Port Henderson Road hip strip known as 'Back Road' are very concerned.
Their concerns, however, are centered around how they feel the violence, especially along the hip strip, will affect their businesses.
Many of the business people, mostly hotel and bar owners, tell THE PORTMORE STAR that they have always been worried about criminal activities on the hip strip, but last weekend's killing of two men in separate incidents along the roadway, have forced many to fear for their lives along the popular strip.
Police reported that two men, Orlando Wilson and Wayne Spence, were killed hours apart last Saturday and Sunday night.
It is reported that on Saturday night Wilson, 24, from Tavares Gardens, Kingston and Portmore, was a patron at a bar along the 'Back Road', when a gunman walked up and shot him dead.
Almost 24 hours later, on Sunday night, Spence, 36, a taxi driver, was shot dead at the round-a-bout near Bridgeport by unknown assailants.
Police say Spence was travelling slowly in his motorcar when a silver Toyota car pulled up along side him. Occupants of the vehicle fired several shots, hitting Spence in the head and other parts of his body. He died on the spot.
Preliminary investigations police say, have revealed that Spence's killing may have been a reprisal for that of Wilson, as his attackers believed he was the one who drove away the man who shot Wilson.
The business people say while they are also concerned about their safety, they fear that if the violence is not brought under control, they might start losing businesses and customers as people might be scared to come there.
At least two business operators say they have been told by customers that they will no longer be coming back to the hip strip for fear of being robbed or worst yet, killed. they say they are calling on the mayor and the police to do something before things get worst.
Efforts to speak with Portmore's Mayor George Lee and top cop Superintendent Terrence Bent were unsuccessful. Recently Superintendent Bent said the police is concentrating their efforts in the area, as a high level of criminality is taking place there. Several persons he said have been arrested. In recent weeks the police have been having several operations along the hip strip and Mayor Lee said the Portmore Municipal Council is working on 'cleaning' up the area.
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