Montego Bay, the nation's tourism capital, is bleeding, and despite several initiatives hatched by the Police High Command and stakeholders in the city, the blood-letting that has resulted in at least 166 murders in the parish of St. James since the start of the year is continuing unabated.

Based on various assessments and evaluations advanced by the police, civic and political leaders, there seems to be a general consensus that factors such as the hopelessness existing in the city's 19 inner-city enclaves, a thriving illicit lottery scam, which has left some communities awash with cash, and the ineffectiveness of the local police are at the root of the problem.

In volatile areas such as Norwood, Bottom Pen and several other such communities in the Mt. Salem area, the absence of basic infrastructure such as proper roads, water and street lights, in some instances, has made these areas difficult to police. As a consequence, they are attractive to criminals seeking safe havens. Additionally, with the heavy concentration of unemployed young persons in these areas, the general idleness and the need to survive have spawned the emergence of notorious criminal gangs such as the Norwood-based Stone Crusher, whose modus operandi includes beheading their enemies and torching their bodies.

The lottery scam, which involves using illicitly-obtained information from offshore gambling entities in the city to con American gamblers into sending them money under the guise that they were paying for a legitimate service, has brought wealth and trouble to some communities.

A number of murders have been blamed on feuds between rival scam artists, as well as through attempts by other criminal elements to cash in on the illicit booty. Even the police have been implicated in the scam, as reports have surfaced that policemen have been allegedly intercepting couriers sent to pick up monies at local cambios and relieving them of the cash.

There is also a general feeling that the local police are more concerned about enriching themselves rather than fighting crime. Over time, a number of policemen have been taken off front-line duties because of their alleged involvement in criminal activities. In fact, in a recent statement in Montego Bay, Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green said police corruption was rampant in the city.

There are also claims that local knowledge is needed by the lawmen to properly police some areas. Within recent times, a number of influential persons have been calling for the reinstatement of some experienced crimefighters, who have had much success battling criminal elements in the past.

With Montego Bay being part of the nation's bid to develop a sustainable tourism product, the spiralling crime rate is cause for serious concern among local stakeholders. It is feared that unless the situation is arrested, irreparable damage could be done to the industry.

Today should be crucial in determining where the city goes in the near future as the senior police officers and city officials are slated to meet in the western city to examine the situation and try to find workable solutions to a problem that concerns not just the Second City, but the whole nation.

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