WESTERN BUREAU:
As criminal elements continue to unleash their wrath on taxi operators, one man was robbed and severely chopped by a passenger in Montego Bay Thursday night.
Police identified him as Norman Smith; about 48 years but they were unable to ascertain his address. Mr. Smith plies the Montego Bay to Farm Heights route.
The Montego Bay police said that they did not have the facts surrounding the incident, as Mr. Smith has not been able to give a statement because of the seriousness of his condition.
At about 9:40 Thursday night, a Gleaner news team was travelling along Brandon Hill when, on approaching a corner, Mr. Smith was seen lying on his side at the brow of a hill in the road. He first appeared drunk, but upon investigating, it was observed that he was actually lying in a pool of blood. Within seconds traffic came to a virtual halt, as a group of motorists (taxi operators) alighted from their cars to assist him.
"Three bwoy just rob mi and chop mi up. Mi weak. Uno come help me," he said in a fainting tone, as blood dripped from his face, hands and other parts of his body.
One driver flung a towel in Mr. Smith's direction and told him to wipe his face, but he could hardly execute this job. Just then, about four men lifted him off the ground and were placing him inside a car, when it was observed that he had a large machete wound to the back bleeding profusely and inner body parts protruding. He was carted off to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he underwent surgery.
Further up the road, Mr. Smith's car was found. It had crashed into a retaining wall and swerved across the road.
Arising from the incident, minutes later, the police picked up a man, about 22 years old, walking along the road in Rose Heights. He was found with a 'cuban' machete, which was covered with bloodstains, according to police. The machete has been sent off to the Government Forensic Labora-tory for analysis.
Investigators said yesterday that they strongly believe that the man could be one of the robbers who chopped Mr. Smith. He is now in custody at the Montego Bay police lock-up on suspicion of wounding with intent. Police suspect that he might be able to assist them in their investigations.
Since January this year, more than 10 taxi operators have been killed in St. James, while Mr. Smith is the 24th operator to have fallen victim to robbers. An analysis of the robberies carried out in St. James since January, has revealed that taxi operators have fallen in the highest category of persons prone to robbers.
Against this background, the St. James Crime Prevention Unit (SJCPU) on Thursday launched the publication of a document, which contained tips aimed at reducing the risk of robberies against taxi operators and passengers. The launch took place at the Montego Bay Transportation Centre, which saw hundreds of taxi operators being briefed and issued with copies of the document.
From there, personnel attached to the SJCPU, the Traffic Department and the community Relations journeyed to The Clock where a large number of taxi operators were issued with copies of the document.
Detective Sergeant Paul Simms, the officer in charge of the SJCPU, said yesterday that most, if not all, of the taxi men welcomed and praised the police for their initiative. The operators promised to utilise the tips and said they should go a far way in reducing robbery incidence.
The tips include, increasing the operators vigilance and powers of observation with respect to detecting passengers boarding the vehicles, especially males and the exposure of large cash at taxi stands which may result in them becoming targets of unsuspecting criminal elements. To minimise this, taxi operators should encourage their passengers to ensure that they have their correct fares at all times.
As it relates to charters, Sergeant Simms is advising operators not to accept charters from more than one male passenger, particularly if they are unknown and are offering excess payment for the service. "Avoid charters where you are required to stop enroute to pick up other persons. On the other hand, taxi operators should not feel threatened by the presence of the police carrying out operations on their routes, but should see it as a means of protection from criminal elements and should desist from a very bad habit - that of signalling other motorists and in particular, fellow operators, by the flashing of their headlights," Sergeant Simms stated.
