No let up on illegal activities downtown

THE POLICE are warning that there will be no ease-up on criminality in downtown Kingston over the holiday period, despite the relaxing of vending and parking restrictions.

With thousands of shoppers seeking bargains in the market district, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has blocked vehicular traffic from some roads, allowed vendors to ply their wares wherever and allowed parking in all but some critical areas.

But head of the Kingston Central Police, Superintendent Steve McGregor, is warning that the police will not be turning a blind eye to criminal activities, such as the selling of ganja and explosive devices.

"In conjunction with the KSAC, we have allowed vending in some areas that we would normally not allow, but this doesn't mean that we are going to relax our zero-tolerance approach on illegal activities," McGregor told The Gleaner.

"We have not eased up on crime management. We have given some leeway on the vending areas for the three days ... but as it relates to crime and illegality, we are not going to ease up," McGregor added.

Fireworks seized

He was speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, almost 24 hours after the police seized a large quantity of fireworks on Matthews Lane in the heart of the city.

"Among the devices we found was a high-powered one (TNT Blue Hawaii) which gives of the same sound like a firearm," McGregor said.

He argued that explosives such as those should be set off by trained experts and could harm children and adults who use them.

"We are appealing to vendors not to sell these items because it is very dangerous. This is not the light firecrackers that Jamaica is used to and I think a youngster's hand was blown off recently by one of these."

McGregor noted that no one was arrested in connection with the Matthews Land seizure, but warned that anyone found selling any of these explosive devices, including the firecrackers, would be prosecuted.

"If they are found selling these items, we are going to prosecute them and even though we give them the leeway to vend, if they are caught selling any of these implements they will be arrested and charged."