GREATER PORTMORE is becoming a source of worries for residents, the police and political representatives.Superintendent Hudson said that the community was showing an increase of four murders since the start of the year compared with the same period last year. Other areas like Bridgeport are also showing increases. Up to this time last year there were four murders in that area, so far this year there have been five.
Figures from the Commissioner's Office show that the general area of South St. Catherine under which Portmore falls along with Old Harbour, Old Harbour Bay and Central Village have been showing a steady increase in murders, rapes and shootings in the last five years.
The annual murder figure jumped from 57 in 1998 to 96 in 2002, so far this year the murder figure stood at 67 up to Friday. The number of rapes also increased from 62 in 1998 to 71 last year.
RESIDENTS PROTEST
In August residents of the Portmore Pines community in Greater Portmore protested at the National Housing Trust's head office against the escalating crime rate, including two rapes. The residents who were worried about their security charged that the company had been slow in erecting a long-promised perimeter wall to keep hoodlums out of the community.
Carnal abuse in the Municipality, which rose from 16 cases last year October to 22 cases at present, will also be discussed along with troubling levels of juvenile delinquency tomorrow.
Mayor Lee, along with local investigators in the area, suggested that a big part of the crime problem hinges on the kinds of persons migrating to Portmore from the Corporate Area.
"A lot of criminals have family in Portmore," said Mayor Lee. "A lot of them know these culprits. People in the community hide and protect these people and they must stop it, they must help."
Superintendent Hudson explained that on Friday, the top brass of the Police Force in the area held a meeting to address the problem and it has been agreed that the foot and bike patrols will be reorganised in the Greater Portmore area to allow for easier access to the communities.
Tomorrow also, as a part of Police Courtesy Week, members of the Force will be stepping out on the streets of the community to greet the people and assure them that everything is being done to ensure their safety.
- L. B.
