THREAT TO TOURISM

The spectre of gun crime threatening the resort ambience of Montego Bay has prompted the Police Area One Crime Chief, Superintendent John Morris, to appeal for calm in the tourist capital.

The high-profile slaying of a Cornwall College teacher has exacerbated the apprehension. For it was only one of a series of gun crimes in which there have been at least two other killings this month.

A CCN spokesman, while conceding that the present level of crime is higher than ever, asserts that it has not reached crisis proportions.

The point has been made that the gun criminals are strangers to the area. This suggests that they are marauders on the move and their greater mobility is yet another factor with which law enforcement agencies will have to contend.

In supporting the police appeal that residents should not panic we also urge them to give practical support in the anti-crime operations that have been mounted to counter the new threat.

The residents of the tourist capital know better than most how vital tourism is to the Second City and indeed to the whole island.

Back to Commentary