By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Chevelle Johnson, one of many infants living in Tavares Gardens, Kingston, squeals with delight yesterday as she is greeted by Police Commissioner Francis Forbes. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
MORE THAN 20 illegal guns and scores of rounds of ammunition have been seized over the past two weeks since the Government implemented its new crime-fighting plan.
"We have established 246 roadblocks islandwide, recovered some 26 firearms, including high-powered weapons and 98 rounds of ammunition. We have arrested a number of persons for various crimes such as murder, shootings and possession of firearms," Police Commissioner Francis Forbes told reporters yesterday. He was speaking during a joint police/military press conference held in the Tavares Gardens community, where a curfew has been imposed over the past nine days.
The Commissioner noted that 538 premises, outside of the areas under curfew, but within the Kingston Metro Area, have been searched by the security forces. Several persons have been detained, some of whom have faced identification parades and have already been charged.
At least nine motor vehicles which were reported stolen have since been recovered. Commissioner Forbes also pointed to the number of open lots which were cleared of tons of debris and derelict buildings that have been bulldozed by the lawmen.
This is part of an effort to address some of the social conditions in the communities under curfew. Commis-sioner Forbes said the success of the security forces will not be measured only by stopping the crime in the various communities.
The joint police/military operations are part of a sustained offensive against criminal gangs, an initiative announced by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in a broadcast to the nation on December 1.
At that time, Mr. Patterson outlined a plan of action targeting gangs.
He said the security forces were to have an active, vigilant presence in certain targeted communities. He also said there would be a new and forceful use of the army "to effectively counter a group of highly armed and extremely ruthless criminals with significant international links."
Yesterday, Commissioner Forbes said the real success will become noticeable when the fear of crime is removed from the heart of every citizen of inner-city communities, when old women can walk with their grandchildren around the community without fear of being shot, children are free to attend school without fearing the danger of crossing political boundaries, people can operate businesses in these communities without being forced to pay criminals to protect them and their business.
While supporting the Commissioner, Jamaica Defence Force Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, said the security forces were working to a set of strategies and game plan. "It is not another knee-jerk reaction to the high incidence of crime and violence. One of the things I must stress is that in these enhanced operations, we are bringing brain power to bear on what we do," said Rear Admiral Lewin.
He pointed to a number of strategies which include winning the minds and heart of citizens with in the troubled communities. For example, in the areas under curfew, the lawmen were providing a security umbrella to isolate the criminals.
"We have began a process and we are assisting in the rebuilding of community organisation, community leadership and social services which are so sadly lacking in some of these communities," the Rear Admiral said.
