Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Left: Deputy Superintendent Meveral 'Banton' Smith stresses a point during an interview with The Gleaner. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER.
EACH YEAR at least 300 persons are murdered across the towns and districts of St. Catherine, which at 483 square miles, is the country's second largest parish and home to over 500,000 residents.
According to police statistics, the lives of more than 150 persons, including three members of the police force, have been snuffed out to date this year by criminals in the parish.
Among the latest victims is popular entertainment promoter and talk show host, Christine Hewitt, who was killed a week ago and her body set ablaze in the Toyota Hiace van in which she was driving. Her charred remains were discovered on the Mount Industry main road, near Riversdale.
This is one of the many gruesome killings which take place in the parish annually. Because of its size and popu-lation, the police in February 1996 had to divide the parish into two police divisions - St. Catherine North and South - making it more manageable for them.
POLICE PROBLEMS
Residents at the intersection of March Pen Road and the Spanish Town bypass surround the body of a pedal cyclist who was killed on Friday, April 14. - ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR.
Commenting on the crime problems in St. Catherine North, Deputy Superintendent Meveral 'Banton' Smith, believes that non-existent street signs and the numbering of premises are impacting negatively on police attempts to respond to distress calls.
The numerous zinc fence communities also pose a serious obstacle to the police and their crime-fighting strategies in the volatile Spanish Town area, where over 131,500 people reside.
"At least 80 per cent of the homicides committed in Spanish Town is gang-related one way or the other," said DSP Smith. But why can't the police stop the killings in St. Catherine?
DONNMANSHIP
Apart from the social and economic conditions in the Spanish Town area, DSP Smith said that the unwillingness of witnesses to come forward and give statements or to testify in court, is another challenge faced by the police. He observed that the 'donmanship' in the inner-city communities of Spanish Town brings about a Robin Hood-type of life style. Most crimes in St. Catherine North are committed on a Tuesday before 9:00 p.m.
Superintendent Smith believes that if politicians separate themselves from the gangs in St. Catherine and allow the police to do their work and the law to take its course, things could be better.
Roman Catholic priest, Monsignor Richard Albert, who is the Chairman of the Crime Prevention Committee, said he and his team have been working with the Government, looking at ways to reduce the level of crime in St. Catherine North.
"We have looked at a number of intervention programmes and have submitted this to the Government," he said. "It will cost hundreds of millions to implement these programmes."
Problem areas
Among the problem areas in the St. Catherine North division are:
De La Vega City
Lauriston
March Pen Road
Gorden Pen
St. John's Road
Kitson Town
Tredegar Park
Ellerslie Pen
Thompson Pen
Sections of Bog Walk
