By Nagra Plunkett, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
HIS ATTACKERS took his money, his firearm and his life. Now the Ulster Spring police are hunting the gunmen who shot and killed businessman and poultry farmer, Barrington Frater, 55, at his home in Dutch Hill, South Trelawny on Monday night.
But up to late yesterday the lawmen still had no leads on the shooters.
Mr. Frater who was remembered as a upright citizen and one of the most prominent entrepreneurs in the farming area, was also robbed of his licensed .38 firearm and $47,570 in cash.
His murder sent shock waves throughout the community and resulted in mounted roadblocks yesterday on the main road between Ulster Spring and Albert Town - the business hub of Southern Trelawny.
Fitz Christie, councillor for the Ulster Spring Division, said residents used the demonstration to "express their disgust and anger with the number of murders that have occurred in the parish."
He explained that persons are worried that their relatively quiet parish, which had a total of 16 murders for the year 2002, is being invaded by criminal elements.
Police statistics indicate that 15 persons have been killed in the parish since the start of 2003 compared to 11 for the same period in 2002. Of the 15 homicides, seven have occurred in the South Trelawny belt.
"I should say that recently there has been an upsurge of violent crimes in the parish and I know that the police have been trying to bring the situation under control but I believe more can be done," said Mr. Christie. "I hope that the police will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators (in Mr. Frater's murder) to justice."
REDUCTION IN CRIMES
Commanding officer for Trelawny, Police Superintendent Jasmine Tomlinson-Brown says the police have increased their visibility and have seen reduction in crimes in the parish.
"We are working and we have been doing everything possible to rid the parish of crime. Maybe with the residents help we might be able to do so much more," said Supt. Tomlinson-Brown.
