Portmore Mayor wants troubled spots targeted

Portmore mayor wants troubled spots targeted

Portmore Mayor Leon Thomas says the security forces should target hotspots in the municipality.

"The security forces should be driven by intelligence and target the three troubled spots - that of Waterford, Newland and Gregory Park. These are the areas where cordons and searches should be taking place, not a shutdown of the entire Portmore," Thomas said.

St Catherine, in which Portmore falls, is currently under a state of emergency. In addition to restricting movements, the opening hours for businesses are curtailed.

The state of emergency, which is in effect for Clarendon and St Catherine, expires on October 19.

Crime is driven by basic human needs - judge

A Jamaican who is a judged in Canada has argued that there are few bad people, adding that the matter of crime is not always black and white.

Justice Michael Tulloch, speaking at at the Crime Stop 30th Anniversary Banquet, said "many people will do bad things, generally for a reason. Often it is out of necessity. A person who is starving will steal to eat.

"By and large, crime is driven by basic human needs. If a person cannot meet their basic physical needs, such as food or shelter, they will turn to crime out of necessity. In those situations, turning to crime is not a true choice," he said.

"Turning to crime should be a poor choice, not an economic requirement. If you do not have positive alternatives, there is no choice. There must be options. If there are many available negative opportunities, crime will increase. When those opportunities are taken away, crime will be reduced. If there are no gangs to join, then none will be joined. If there are no guns available to buy, none will be bought," he reasoned.

High schools get anti-trafficking in persons clubs

Eleven high schools have signed on to Anti-Trafficking in Persons Clubs in School initiative.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Carl Berry, head of the anti-trafficking in persons vice squad in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, said the decision was taken to focus on high schools at first, "as we want to get the groups who are moving from one vulnerability to the next".

"They are coming out of that young teen situation for those moving on to university or into the job world. And we know that a big part of what criminals want are those young people who want an opportunity and make themselves more vulnerable," he said.

"The intention is to have it across the schools, and that will include primary schools at some point in the future," he added.

Too much lawlessness - PSOJ

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) said it is alarmed at the wanton disregard for law and order that is becoming the norm in Jamaica. The comment comes in the wake of Tuesday's near shutdown of the public transport system is sections of the corporate area.

Howard Mitchell, president of the PSOJ, is reiterating his calls for a cohesive effort by civil society groups and the political directorate to arrest the disorder in society.

"It cannot be business as usual. Repression and increased policing cannot be the only responses to this creeping decivilization of our country. We must find the will to put aside differences in political interest and collaborate to save our nation, by strengthening our institutions and implementing social reforms before we descend into total anarchy," he said.

Brother charged with murder after he allegedly killed his brother

Kevin McLeod, otherwise called 'Puss Man', a labourer of Croatia Mountain, Roehampton in St James, has been charged for the murder of his brother.

Reports from the Montego Bay police are that about 8 a.m. on September 19, McLeod,33, and his brother, 28-year-old Dale Hylton, allegedly had a dispute when a machete was used to chop Hylton. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

McLeod later turned himself in, accompanied by a pastor. He was charged with murder on Tuesday and is scheduled to appear before the St James Parish Court next Wednesday.

Justices of the peace concerned about reckless driving

The Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica (LMAJ), the umbrella group that represents justices of the peace, has expressed concern over the spate of recklessness and carnage on the roadways in the island.

At the recent monthly meeting of the management committee of the LMAJ, on September 21, members pointed to the high levels of motor vehicle accidents and road deaths since the start of the year.

They have also stated that as a result of the numerous accidents, it is taking a toll on the already-heavily burdened health system of the country.

The LMAJ says it is greatly concerned about the many students that are injured as a result of these accidents due to the carelessness of some of our public transport operators.

Some 316 persons who have been killed due to motor vehicle crashes since the start of the year.