Robbers lay siege to Charles Gordon Market

WESTERN BUREAU:

The St James Municipal Corporation has pledged to ramp up security at the Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay, which has come under siege from armed robbers.

Gerald Lee, secretary-manager of the St James Municipal Corporation, which has primary responsibility for the market, told The Gleaner yesterday that the authorities were aware of the security threat at the market, which has spilled over to nearby business.

“We had a shortage of security personnel at the market, but we have recently hired additional security and are looking to add more,” said Lee. “In fact, we started recruiting just this Monday, so in a short while, the market will be flocked with additional security.”

The robberies have occurred despite a yearlong state of public emergency that will expire on January 31. The security clampdown accounted for a precipitous drop in murders, which fell 70 per cent year on year.

However, vendors said that even though there are regular police and military patrols in the area, the gunmen were daring, some toting weapons in full view of the public.

“Di robber dem a kill wi down yah,” a vendor, who requested anonymity because of security concerns, told The Gleaner on Friday. “Anytime dem feel like, dem just come hold wi up. Some a dem even a demand protection money from wi.”

Detective Inspector Odane Dennis, officer in charge of crime in St James, told The Gleaner that the police were grappling with the spate of robberies.

“Since the start of the year, we have not received many reports of robberies, but we know they are taking place,” said Dennis. “We are working to make the general area safe by constantly putting in new security measures.”

Earlier this week, 63-year-old security guard Lloyd Johnson, who was transporting money from a business place to a cambio, was shot and killed along Barnett Street by robbers.

“Last year, the Barnett Street policing area (where the market is located) accounted for most of the murders and robberies committed in the parish of St James,” said Dennis.