Nagra Plunkett, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE RECENT spate of gang-related violence now gripping sections of Trelawny has made its way into several schools throughout the parish.
Detective Inspector Clive Brown, acting crime chief for the parish, yesterday confirmed that investigations are being carried out to determine the extent to which flare-ups are linked to gangs operating in the troubled communities of Racecourse, Compound, Dump and Site.
"I can speak specifically to Muschette (High School) where we understand that two gangs have developed," he said. "The fighting ... that has been happening for a while but it was under wraps, but we will be increasing the number of school visits and lectures through the Safe Schools Programme."
The programme was re-vitalised at the Muschette, Cedric Titus and Albert Town high schools. Since the start of the year, two students have been fatally stabbed and another injured in school violence.
Detective Brown said weapons seized from students at Muschette included knives, machetes, scissors, screwdrivers and ice picks.
STAMP OUT THESE ELEMENTS
Commanding Officer at the Trelawny Police Division, Superintendent Linnette Williams-Martin, in her address to the Trelawny Crime Prevention, Community Safety and Security Forum at the Falmouth Town Hall on Thursday, said her staff would not be deterred in their efforts to stamp out those elements wreaking havoc in the parish.
"We are aware that some crazy young persons have taken it upon themselves to wreak havoc and drive fear in our people, however, we should not be deterred in our efforts because they are but few and the majority are decent law-abiding citizens," she said. "There are few communities within the parish that rise up in criminal activities from time to time. Within these communities there are groups of young men who form themselves into gangs, age group between 14 and 20 years old."
