Contrived! Cops dismiss extortion claim in downtown Kingston

Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

The Police High Command is downplaying reports of renewed extortion demands in downtown Kingston while accusing some business operators of exaggerating these claims.

In a caustic response to appeals from downtown Kingston business operators for measures to clamp down on extortionists, the Police High Command yesterday claimed that the allegations were being made by persons who want to see a return to the old order.

"Persons who orchestrated these complaints are desirous of returning the criminal enforcers to the business and market districts of downtown Kingston. These reports are an attempt to hit back at the security forces for all the recent gains made in downtown Kingston," the High Command said.

"These reports generate a sense of public fear by claiming that the police are incapable of dealing with the issues of extortion, crime and violence," the High Command added in response to a Gleaner story, while making no comment on a similar story carried by another medium.

A number of business operators had told The Gleaner that extortionists were pressuring them to pay between $20,000 and $60,000 monthly.

The operators claimed that those who refused to pay had their business places broken into, while others had been threatened.

But the Police High Command said dealing with extortion has been high on its agenda since the incursion into west Kingston on May 24.

According to the police, they have increased their deployment in downtown Kingston and have arrested and charged 13 persons for extortion in the commercial district since last month.

But the cops said despite their good work they expected these allegations.

Perpetrators of crime

"It is a simple matter. The criminal gangs and their compliant cohorts who offer to provide security in the downtown business and market districts are themselves the perpetrators of crime and violence.

"By generating fear among members of the business community, they, in turn, use this fear for profit. The kind of support that is embedded in these criminal networks also includes 'so-called' members of the business community who are mostly unregulated and whose sole purpose is to profit and benefit from criminal activities," the High Command said.

The police urged business operators to report demands from extortionists to the authorities and not the media.

"The police need persons in the business districts of Jamaica to understand that every act or approach related to extortion must be reported as quickly as possible, firstly to the police, and then to the relevant umbrella organisation, whether it is the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Jamaica Manufacturers' Association or the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.

"We assure business owners that every report will be dealt with expeditiously," the High Command said.