By Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
AS FEAR continues to grip the city of Montego Bay in the wake of the current crime wave, the St. James Police High Command has established an anti-robbery unit to serve as a buffer between criminals and the city's business district.
"With the fallout in the drug trade, we believe that some of the criminals, who formerly made money from that source, might be tempted to turn on the business com-munity," said Assistant Superintendent of Police Dave Hyman, a senior member of the anti-robbery unit. "Our aim is to assure the business people that we are here to offer them the necessary protection."
According to ASP Hyman, the new unit, which comprises both mobile and foot patrols, will establish a commanding presence on the streets as a deterrent to would-be robbers. In addition, the unit, he said, is capable of providing extra security in instances where major financial transactions are taking place.
Although embracing the new initiative, some members of the city's business community are still worried that the ongoing 'killing spree', which has claimed 80 lives since the start of the year, could spill over and affect both the business district and the tourism belt.
EXTREMELY BRUTAL
"These gunmen are extremely brutal and I seriously doubt whether our police are equipped to handle them," one businessman, who asked not to be identified, told The Gleaner on Tuesday. "With over 700 murders nationally since January, it would appear that our police are not coping as well as we expect."
The call for overseas security help has been gaining much traction within recent weeks. In a Gleaner interview on Monday, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) president Godfrey Dyer bluntly stated that, "the government needs to get experts to come and take up residence within the CIB offices in every parish to help and guide in the art of investigation."
In acknowledging that St. James, especially Montego Bay, is difficult to police, ASP Hyman noted that because the criminals tend to operate outside of an established network, such as a gang, it is extremely difficult to track their movement.
"We have situations where these fellows team up for particular crimes but for the most part they operate independently with no set pattern," ASP Hyman said.
