Gov't implementing strategies to tackle upsurge in violence in Westmoreland

The National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says the government will continue to increase its law enforcement activities in Westmoreland to stem the upsurge in violence in the parish.

Last week, at least 15 persons were shot, seven fatally, in a section of Grange Hill in the parish.

Chang, in a statement in Parliament this afternoon, announced that Savanna-la-Mar, Negril, and Grange Hill have been classified as crime hotspots.

Chang disclosed that there have been 57 murders and 64 shootings in the parish between January 1 and May 5, 2018, representing a 30 per cent increase when compared with the same period in 2017.

He added that intelligence suggests that 36 of the murders and 18 cases of shootings are linked to gang-related conflict.

“In this regard, Mr Speaker we will increase Internal Security Operations within the Division, targeting wanted persons, persons of interest and known facilitators of the current gang rivalry that exist in the hotspot areas,” Chang said.

He further said that there will be an increase in human and physical resources in the Morgan’s Bridge Police District and that the Financial Investigations Division and Revenue Protection Division will be tasked with going after criminals and their support systems in a push to disrupt their financial network.

FULL STATEMENT 

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to update this Honourable House on a number of issues pertaining to the National Security portfolio, more specifically, the situation in Western Jamaica and in particular the Parish of Westmoreland.

The Situation in Westmoreland

May 1, 2018 saw a total of 7 persons being killed in Grange Hill, Westmoreland. Among the victims were 2 of our children, our future, a potential teacher or a potential Prime Minister.

2-year-old Sheldon Morgan Jr.,10-year-old Nicoy Bourne and several other Jamaicans have fallen victim to consequences of the illicit Lottery scam practice which is the primary source of funding for organized criminal activities carried out by the violence producers. In fact, the intelligence tells us that the feud between the Kings Valley gang and Sterling/Godfrey gang is directly responsible to the events of May 1st that in addition to the murders and shootings saw the destruction of property and an overall disruption of public order and community safety.

On Wednesday, May 2, 2018, following the incident I was accompanied by, the Commissioner of Police and Member of Parliament Dr. Wykeham McNeil to the scene where we engaged with several residents.

At the same time, additional personnel from the security forces were deployed on the ground in Westmoreland. This was one of the several responses as we execute an all-out effort to nab the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Between May 2 and 4, 2018, joint security forces operations were focused on Savanna-la-mar, Little London and Grange Hill. Those efforts yielded the detention of ninety-three (93) persons including 11 persons of interest, the recovery of one (1) AK-47 rifle, one (1) magazine containing seven (7) 7.62 rounds. Additionally, two (2) persons of interest in the May 1, 2018 Grange Hill incident have since turned themselves in to the police. Additionally, we have successfully arrested 13 wanted gang members and 1 one facilitator who also had his business closed.

It should be noted that during this period, at the same time, on the morning of Thursday May 3, 2018, while the joint security deployment was taking place, the JDF was dealing with a downed aircraft in Trelawny and also conducted a narcotics interdiction at sea where 11 bags amounting to 784 pounds of compressed ganja were found.

On Friday May 4, 2018, the joint JDF/JCF operations extended to Negril and neighbouring divisions where goods were seized, additional persons of interest were arrested. The following day, Saturday, May 5, 2018, an additional person of interest turned himself in. As at May 8,2018, an additional UZI Submachine gun was discovered and 6 persons arrested.

It is clear, Mr. Speaker that the joint security forces relying on intelligence on the grounds and making operational changes have garnered some success in Westmoreland.

This Honourable House should also note that as a means of sustaining progress, the JDF has re-established a Forward Operating Base (FOB) within Westmoreland and has commenced joint patrols, primarily in the hotspot areas of the Division. This is being supported by the Domestic patrols from the Westmoreland Divisional Police.

Clear, Hold, Build

Mr. Speaker while we work within the principles of “Clear, Hold and Build”, it is important to note that in order to reach the Build Phase, there must be a deliberate effort on the part of the security forces to rid these vulnerable communities of the violence producers. Our policy position of dealing with gang leaders is to see them arrested, charged and incarcerated for their crimes against people and the State. We envision in the media; images of dons being escorted to courts by Police Officers as testimony of our new way of doing business.

There is a need to diminish the heroic image of the gang leaders – to apprehend, investigate, convict and incarcerate is the best mechanism.

Organized Criminal Gang Activity and State Reponses

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that what we need to move with deliberate efforts to further curtail organized criminal gang activity utilizing the legislative framework (Anti-gang Law, Proceeds of Crime Act, Anti-Lottery Scam Act) at our disposal. This Honourable House should note that the Ministry of National Security is currently reviewing these laws to enhance their capability. Rest assured, we will be going after these criminals taking the proceeds out of crime, seizing their assets, and those assets which they have also placed in names of members of their families.

In Westmoreland, there are 3 major gang feuds which account for most of the murders and shootings. These are:

Dester Street gang versus Dalling Street gang;

Kings Valley gang versus Sterling/Godfrey gang; and

Garth Elvin gang versus The Russell Faction.

As a result, Westmoreland continues to experience an upsurge in violence with a total of 57 murders and 64 shooting incidents reported for the period of January 1 to May 5, 2018. This represents an increase of 30 percent over the 2017 comparative total. Intelligence suggests that 36 incidents of murders and 18 of shootings have been linked to gang-related conflict.

The areas of Savanna-la-Mar, Negril, and Grange Hill have been classified as hotspots with several communities within these vicinities affected due to fall outs related to the Drugs for Gun trade and Lottery Scam syndicates.

These include the communities of Church Lincoln, Top Lincoln, Kings Valley, Mint Road, Punna Hill, Sterling (Godfrey Street) and Fullersfield District.

Police numbers

It has been posited that the numbers within the JCF are too small to respond effectively to the needs of the States of Emergency. At current, at a strength of a little under 12,000 the ratio is actually 242 per 100,000 people.

My Predecessor expanded training facilities for the Police and on Friday, some 300 new recruits will graduate and join the ranks of the JCF. Mr. Speaker while we recognize the need for additional Officers by replacing those who have resigned and retired, it is also important to address other fundamental issues that are affecting the JCF. The Ministry has been embarking on radical approaches to reform the JCF by modernizing capabilities through the use of increased technology, and improved electronics to enable the Force in its delivery of 21st-century type policing services. These efforts are being implemented parallel to the work, being carried out by the Commissioner and his senior Officers, to carry out organizational reforms within the JCF.

State as Protector

Mr. Speaker, the oldest and simplest justification for government is as protector: protecting citizens from violence. A safe and secure environment is one in which the population has the freedom to pursue daily activities without fear of persistent violence. Such an environment is characterized by an end to large-scale violence; an adequate level of public order; the protection of communities and; and the freedom for people to move about without fear of undue harm.

In this regard Mr. Speaker, we will:

Increase Internal Security Operations within the Division, targeting wanted persons, persons of interest and known facilitators of the current gang rivalry that exists in the hotspot areas;

Increase human and physical resources in Morgan's Bridge Police District;

Inform personnel across the controlled ports of possible persons of interest from the division that may attempt to flee the island;

Work with the FID and the RPD to go after these criminals, their cronies and support systems to disable their resources and make them financially inviable; and

Embark on the development of a master plan for these communities to improve upon public order while at the same time enhancing access to social amenities.

Public Order, Mr. Speaker, as we envision it, is a condition in which laws are enforced equitably; the lives, property, freedoms, and rights of individuals are protected; criminal motivated violence has been reduced to a minimum; and criminal elements are pursued, arrested, and detained. major illegal armed groups have been identified, disarmed and demobilized; and national security forces operate lawfully.

Conclusion

Mr. Speaker, the philosophy guiding the operations is apprehending gang leaders, locking them up, diminishing their status as heroes within our communities and bringing them to justice. It is not just boots on the ground, we are working with deliberate efforts to introduce organizational changes within the JCF to make it more and accountable and responsive to citizen security and public safety and maintenance of peace.

Westmoreland, Mr. Speaker is a good place to begin. 

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