WESTERN BUREAU:
THE ST. James police have boosted their numbers in the volatile community of Norwood and are now threatening to 'fight fire with fire' in a bid to repel the marauding gunmen, who murdered one man and injured several others in a series of gun attacks this week.
"We will not be giving up any ground to these gunmen, they must either lay down their weapons or face the consequences," said Senior Superin-tendent John Morris, who this week deployed 25 additional policemen to complement the 'special squad' now targeting problem-plagued communities in the parish.
"We have pledged to restore order in these areas and we are going to keep our word," he said.
MURDER-FREE MONTH
After one 'murder-free' month, during which a number of St. James communities came under close scrutiny from the 21-member special squad, the criminals resurfaced earlier this week, killing ex-convict Dwayne Smith and injuring several persons in a series of brazen gun attacks in Norwood.
In the latest incident, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon, a group of young people who were discussing the just-concluded football match between Jamaica and the United States in a section of the community, came under heavy gunfire from unknown assailants. One man was seriously injured in the incident.
Responding to the return of hostilities, Montego Bay's Mayor Noel Donaldson yesterday re-issued his call for Security Minister Peter Phillips to design a special crime prevention plan for the western city. He also wants to see the police better equipped, and plans put in place to address the unemployment situation in the troubled communities.
