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May Pen taxi and bus operators fear for their lives
Monday, 26 January 2009
Operators of public transportation vehicles in sections of May Pen in Clarendon are refusing to use the main transportation centre in the town after reported threats from thugs.
This follows last weekend's death of a man on March Pen Road in St. Catherine.
The man was killed in a reported shoot-out with the police.
When the RJR News team visited the township on Monday morning, operators were seen soliciting passengers on the roads and other unauthorised areas.
The bus park was noticeably empty.
The operators, who refused to speak on tape, said they would not be putting their lives at risk and will continue to pick up passengers outside of the park.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Patrick Murdock, confirmed that the police have picked up the information that the operators have been threatened.
"The police have targeted these areas and we have carried out operations in these areas ensuring that nothing unusual occurs in these respective parts. A few persons attempted to stage a blockage across a roadway in May Pen, a team of police were alerted and dealt with it," said DSP Murdock.
He also sought to assure residents and business people who need to use the town to conduct their business.
On Saturday 34-year-old Gregory Thomas otherwise called "Soul", an alleged extortionist with reported links to the notorious Lion Paw Gang was shot after he reportedly confronted a heavy detachment of security personnel on March Pen Road.
He later died in hospital.
The police said Mr. Thomas who was wanted for murder operated a lucrative extortion racket in two transportation centres in May Pen.
In the wake of his shooting on Saturday residents of March Pen Road demonstrated claiming the man was killed in cold-blood.
At newstime, the residents had resumed their demonstration on the Spanish Town by-pass.
But a heavy detachment of police was on the scene.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Operators of public transportation vehicles in sections of May Pen in Clarendon are refusing to use the main transportation centre in the town after reported threats from thugs.
This follows last weekend's death of a man on March Pen Road in St. Catherine.
The man was killed in a reported shoot-out with the police.
When the RJR News team visited the township on Monday morning, operators were seen soliciting passengers on the roads and other unauthorised areas.
The bus park was noticeably empty.
The operators, who refused to speak on tape, said they would not be putting their lives at risk and will continue to pick up passengers outside of the park.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Patrick Murdock, confirmed that the police have picked up the information that the operators have been threatened.
"The police have targeted these areas and we have carried out operations in these areas ensuring that nothing unusual occurs in these respective parts. A few persons attempted to stage a blockage across a roadway in May Pen, a team of police were alerted and dealt with it," said DSP Murdock.
He also sought to assure residents and business people who need to use the town to conduct their business.
On Saturday 34-year-old Gregory Thomas otherwise called "Soul", an alleged extortionist with reported links to the notorious Lion Paw Gang was shot after he reportedly confronted a heavy detachment of security personnel on March Pen Road.
He later died in hospital.
The police said Mr. Thomas who was wanted for murder operated a lucrative extortion racket in two transportation centres in May Pen.
In the wake of his shooting on Saturday residents of March Pen Road demonstrated claiming the man was killed in cold-blood.
At newstime, the residents had resumed their demonstration on the Spanish Town by-pass.
But a heavy detachment of police was on the scene.
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