By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterSince January 658 Jamaicans have been murdered and according to police records, most of the killings have taken place in the St. Andrew South, St. Catherine North, St. Catherine South and St. James police divisions.
Combined, these divisions account for 336, or almost 50 per cent of the country's murder toll.
THE DIVISIONS responsible for most of the murders comprise violence-prone communities such as Spanish Town and adjoining communities in St. Catherine North, Olympic Gardens in St. Andrew South, Central Village in South St. Catherine and Flankers in St. James.
Deputy Superintendent Bertram Lee, the crime officer for St. Catherine North, said gang feuds are responsible for most of the 91 murders committed across the division. He said about 12 of the killings have been categorised as domestic murders. These are disputes among family members.
"Our main problem is the unwillingness of eyewitnesses to come forward and give formal statements," said DSP Lee, who believes that repeat murderers are involved in a number of the killings across the division.
"Right now we have 74 persons reporting weekly on condition of bail, another 80 have absconded bail and are now being sought, while there are warrants out for the arrest of 36 who are wanted in connection with various crimes," said Mr. Lee.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
He explained that gang feuds pose the biggest problem for the lawmen in the division. The crime officer pointed to several gangs which he said continue to recruit members.
The division is bordered by Mount Rosser, Guy's Hill and Glengoffe to the north, Lakes Pen to the south and Old Harbour Road in the west.
Newly-promoted Senior Superintendent Clifford Blake is the head of the division.
St. Andrew South covers most of the violence-plagued communities in the Corporate Area. Its commander is Superintendent Newton Amos. Since the start of the year, 109 persons have been murdered in the division. For the past six years, most of the country's homicides have taken place in this division.
Among the victims of violence are 65 females, 16 taxi operators, eight children, six policemen, four security guards, three crown witnesses and one inmate. Reprisal killings account for 182, domestic 153, undetermined 143, gang feuds 76, robbery 73, drug related 15 and rape seven.
