Deon P Green, Gleaner Writer
LONDON, England:
JAMAICANS WHO reside overseas are already rejoicing at reports that a policeman has been charged and others held for a series of crimes targetting returning residents.
Passing on the information via the Internet to its members on New Year's Day, the Jamaica Diaspora UK prefaced the note with "This should make interesting reading ...", and "... returning residents of the Diaspora can breathe a sigh of relief".
POLICEMAN CHARGED
The report was that Constable Horace Roberts, the alleged mastermind of a ring that committed a series of armed robberies against returning resident in St. Thomas, Clarendon, Man-chester and St. Elizabeth, had been charged.
Last Thursday, the Flying Squad detectives charged him with 30 counts of robbery.
The other accused are 30-year-old Robert Hurd; 30-year-old Richard Ewart; 26-year-old Princess John and a 16-year-old girl.
The police alleged that between May last year and October of this year several robberies were committed against returning residents by men armed with guns. The robbers stole millions of dollars worth of goods from the returning residents.
There had been serious concerns voiced among returning residents in the U.K. at several forums over the level of crime and violence in Jamaica.
However, last year, several government ministers, including Minister of Finance Omar Davies, National Security Minister Dr. Peter Philips and other top security personnel who visited the U.K., told Jamaicans in London that there was no evidence to suggest that returning residents were being targetted by criminals.
The recent arrests, however, discredit the denials of these top government officials.
EXERCISE VIGILANCE
Speaking with a number of Jamaicans in London earlier this week, there were contrasting views as to the reports of the policeman and others allegedly targetting and robbing returning residents on their way from the airports.
"I am not telling anybody when I am going home. I will just arrange things and find my way home as too much thing a happen down there (Jamaica)," one woman said.
Still, there are others who are not as fearful and who believe that the crime is not widespread. Most expressed a need to exercise greater vigilance when travelling home from airports.
In the meantime, the policeman, who was reportedly held with two firearms and sums of money in US, Canadian, British and Jamaican currency, is booked to appear in court on January 6, along with the others charged with the robberies.
