By Nagra Plunkett, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE ST. JAMES police are demanding that the Government put what they call the 'necessary infrastructure' in place to assist in the fight against crime in the problem-plagued community of Rose Heights.
"It is a difficult task to patrol areas like Rose Heights... At times we have problems accessing areas because of the existing road conditions and the absence of street lights," said Sergeant Conrad Cummings of the Mount Salem Police Station, which has responsibility for the area. "Like other problematic communities, there is a high level of unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and poor interpersonal relationships."
There has been a major upsurge in gun violence in the Rose Heights community since the last couple of weeks. Only 10 days ago, violence claimed five lives, including a double murder of a mother and her 11-year-old son. Sixty-two persons have been killed in St. James since 2004.
FINDING SOLUTIONS
On Friday, a community meeting, facilitated by the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) Unit in Montego Bay, was called with the hope of finding solutions to deal with the unrest. Also, it addressed the high level of unemployment in the community and the need for creating job opportunities for residents. In attendance were church leaders, political representatives, citizens and members of the business community.
In highlighting their concerns, residents said there was need for a police post to serve the community and its adjoining areas.
"We need the presence of the police and the Mount Salem Police Station cannot adequately serve the communities under its watch," stated Josiah Duncan, a resident of Farm Heights. "The policemen there have to cover a large number of communities and while the station has not been expanded, these communities, most of which are informal settlements, have grown."
Mr. Duncan suggested the use of a three-room concrete structure, situated on the land that houses the community centre in Farm Heights, for the police post.
