07/18/2015 by Mike

Six Killed As Gunmen Go On Rampage In Western Parish

Security Minister Peter Bunting (centre) in discussion with Rev Knollis King (right), councillor for the Rose Heights Division, St James at the spot where two people were murdered Thursday night. The security minister toured the parish following six murders between Thursday night and yesterday morning. Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Ferguson (third right), was among members of the minister’s touring party. (PHOTO: ANTHONY LEWIS)

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Security Minister Peter Bunting rushed to St James yesterday for a hastily arranged tour following a bloody 24 hours in the crime-hit parish during which six people were shot and killed. Bunting, following the tour, told reporters that more police personnel would be deployed in St James by the end of the week to help combat crime in the western parish, which the police believe is being fuelled by the ongoing lottery scam. Curfews are also to be imposed in sections of the parish by the police.The touring party included members of the Jamaica Defence Force and Police Area One, headed by Assistant Commissioner Paul Ferguson, and other members of the top brass of the St James Police Division.

Five of the deceased have so far been identified. They are:

* 62-year-old Phillip Campbell and his nephew, 42-year-old Kevin Campbell, both of Matches Lane, Rose Heights;

* 42-year- old craft vendor Elizabeth Joy Robinson, of Ocho Rios, St Ann;

* 42-year- old David Dilbert, of Norwood in the parish; and

* 31-year-old Patrick Williams, also of Norwood.

The latest killing took place at 4:45 yesterday morning when Robinson was shot in the head by a gunman while she was preparing to set up craft items for display at the Harbour Street Craft Market. A man who was shot and injured during the attack was taken to hospital where he was admitted. Two hours before that, Campbell and his nephew were shot and killed by gunmen at their gate as they drove home with a female companion. The woman, police said, managed to escape unhurt. Meanwhile, about 9:45 Thursday night residents heard explosions in the Norwood community following which Williams and Dilbert were found suffering from gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at hospital. More than 120 murders have been reported in the St James Police Division since the start of the year, making it one of the bloodiest of the country’s 14 parishes.
Story Originated here: Six killed as gunmen go on rampage in western parish

07/16/2015 by Mike

US Embassy Sends Condolence To Slain Cop’s Family

KINGSTON, Jamaica — United States Ambassador to Jamaica Luis Moreno in a statement issued Thursday afternoon expressed condolence to the family of police Constable Crystal Thompson, who was gunned down Tuesday night while on her way home from work.

See full statement below:

On behalf of the United States Mission to Jamaica, I wish to extend our deep and sincere condolences to the family and colleagues of Constable Crystal Thomas, who lost her life in the line of duty on July 14^th. Constable Thomas’ bravery and quick action saved many lives and demonstrated her dedication to her country and to protecting her fellow citizens. At twenty-four years old, she exemplified the code of the Jamaica Constabulary Force: Serve, Protect and Reassure. Everyday law enforcement officers across Jamaica step into the line of duty. I commend these officers and know they will continue to carry their duties professionally and justly. Tragically, all too many officers as well as everyday Jamaicans have lost their lives to this senseless violence. The United States Embassy stands with the people and Government of Jamaica against these lawless criminals.

07/13/2015 by Mike

‘John Crow Politics’ — Bunting Lashes JLP, Accuses Opposition Of Seeking Mileage From Crime

Published:Monday | July 13, 2015

Derrick Smith Opposition Spokesperson on National Security

National Security Minister Peter Bunting went on the warpath yesterday, but his venom was not unleashed on criminal elements wreaking havoc in society.Fresh from his overseas visit and back on the job, Bunting served notice that he would be speaking comprehensively on plans to wrestle with crime during tomorrow’s sitting of the House of Representatives. Conceding that the Government would be responding to the 19 per cent increase in murders, Bunting echoed last week’s pronouncements of Police Commissioner Dr Carl Williams.But for last night, Bunting’s verbal fusillade was aimed at the parliamentary opposition; its leader Andrew Holness; and its spokesman on national security, Derrick Smith, whom he described as rejected, discarded, and recycled. “I have tried to keep national security outside the partisan political fray, however, that approach can only work when you have an enlightened Opposition,” said Bunting as he addressed the Eastern St Andrew conference at the University of the West Indies in St Andrew. “One hand can’t clap. It is now clear that they are making the issue of crime a central plank of their political platform.”

As he unleashed volley after volley, Bunting charged: “Some in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leadership have been behaving like a set of John Crows, like vultures, gleefully reacting to every loss of life as an opportunity to gain political mileage.” Bunting told supporters that the JLP had left him no choice but to respond to its underhanded tactics. “Well, I have a message for them,” he said. “I’m back, and I’m going to respond comprehensively and devastatingly.” In launching another round of verbal missiles, Bunting declared: “This man, him never trouble no one, but if you trouble this man, it will bring a bam-bam,” added Bunting to the obvious glee of cheering PNP loyalists. Describing the strategy of the Opposition as that of a political dunce, the national security minister’s most scathing tirade was aimed at Smith. He charged that the JLP had brought Jamaica to the brink of infamy by turning the system upside down during the extradition saga of 2010. Bunting charged that Smith was “jumping up every day”, excited and seeking to create panic.

COWARDS

“Like the cowards that they are, they wait until my back is turned, until I’m out of the country, to launch their most recent attacks,” he said. “That man is Derrick Smith, the perennial opposition spokesman on national security, I believe the longest-serving opposition spokesman on national security in the history of Jamaica,” declared Bunting. “The way he speaks, you would think that if only he became minister of national security Jamaica’s crime problem would be solved.” Noting that Smith was national security minister for an eight-month period when there was an average of nearly seven murders per day, Bunting said: “This is the same man now jumping up and down over three murders per day, less than half of what occurred when he was in office.” Bunting charged that in Smith’s final month in office alone, there were more than 200 murders. He charged that Smith did not table a single piece of legislation or initiate a single new policy during his tenure.“Derrick Smith’s brief stint as security minister can only be described as an unmitigated disaster,” said Bunting. Read Original story here :‘John Crow Politics’ — Bunting Lashes JLP, Accuses Opposition Of Seeking Mileage From Crime