By Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
FOLLOWING A series of successful operations that have resulted in a number of arrests, Superintendent Cecil Fletcher, the commanding officer for the Trelawny police, has declared Falmouth, a place he recently dubbed "a gun factory", safe for its residents. "I think we now have the situation under control," said Superintendent Fletcher, who conducted a massive raid in the volatile Falmouth Gardens area last week with over 200 policemen. "A number of men have been arrested while others have fled the area."
RICH GEORGIAN HERITAGE
Prior to Superintendent Fletcher's recent bid to restore order in Falmouth, residents of the town, best known for its rich Georgian heritage, openly expressed fear about the brazen attitude of a group of home-grown gunslingers and other criminals from neighbouring St. James, who were wreaking havoc in sections of the town.
"Most of those who have been firing the guns are misguided teenage boys," said Superinten-dent Fletcher, who was only recently transferred from Westmoreland to Trelawny. "This is my home parish and I intend to make sure that it is a safe place for those who live here."
Members of the Falmouth business community, who are fearful that the violence, if left unchecked, will affect their businesses further, have welcomed the crackdown by the police.
"We have to give thanks to the police because things were really getting out of hand," said businessman Bertram Smith, who added that every time he hears a gunshot it drives new fear into his heart. "There were times that I had began to contemplate about seeking out another place to live."
SPECIAL TASK FORCE
As a means of ensuring that law and order is maintained in Falmouth, Superintendent Fletcher has created a special task force, which comprises three separate units. According to him, the police are now working around the clock to ensure that criminals cannot find any comfort zone in the parish.
"All we are asking is that the residents tell us what they know; we will do the rest," said Superintendent Fletcher. "Our goal is to make Trelawny a safe parish and we are going to ensure that we achieve this goal."
