JAMAICA'S AMBASSADOR to the United States, Seymour Mullings, has conveyed the country's "deep regret and sorrow at the deaths of several innocent individuals who needlessly perished" during the recent spate of sniper attacks in the Washington, DC area.
He also expressed solidarity with the US government and residents of the Washington metropolitan area, "who have endured three fearful weeks and had seen a significant disruption in their daily routines and the everyday conduct of their lives."
The Ambassador's comments were made at a meeting with Assistant Secretary of State, Phillip Chicola and senior government officials at the US Department of State on October 25, where he officially extended condolences on behalf of the Jamaican government and
people.
Speaking to the alleged involvement of Jamaican national, Lee Boyd Malvo, in the recent murders, Ambassador Mullings said it was regrettable that one who, by all accounts, had a good academic record and had shown such promise during his tenure as a high school student in Jamaica, could now be accused of criminal activity of this proportion. "Perhaps the greatest tragedy in this unfolding issue is that this outcome could have been prevented by effective intervention and oversight, which may have precluded Malvo's involvement in these unfortunate events," he said.
Ambassador Mullings also pledged the co-operation of the Jamaican mission and Government in supporting the ongoing investigations surrounding the recent shootings and suggested that the Jamaican Embassy could be called upon to "render any assistance as the legal and judicial process relating to this case continues to evolve."
He said the US continued to be home to hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans who obeyed the law, and were active contributors to the country's economic and social development.
"These long-standing linkages account for the great outpouring of sorrow and concern that we have witnessed from Jamaicans all over the United States, who have called our Embassy to register their dismay at the association of a Jamaican national with these events," Mr. Mullings said.
Mr. Chicola thanked the Ambassador for his comments and observed that the events "in no way characterised the existing relations between our two countries and is simply a very unfortunate event and an
aberration."
He expressed his satisfaction with the condolences and concerns from the Jamaican Government and people, and thanked Ambassador Mullings for the "excellent co-operation and assistance" which have been provided to US officials in the conduct of investigations related to the case.
