Portland has the most illegal guns, says businessman

A Portland businessman sent tongues wagging recently during a Gleaner Editors' Forum held at the conclusion of a week-long probe of crime in the parish following his claim that Portland has the most illegal guns in Jamaica.

Portland has the least number of murders since the start of the year five. Therefore, his startling revelation was met with scrutiny, especially from the top brass of the Portland police who were also on hand.

The businessman, Collin Bell, of Wilson's Enterprise in the parish also urged the authorities to do more in their fight against the flow of illegal guns in the parish.

"If we don't address the crime plan nationally, I am of the opinion that in the near future it could affect us. Portland is also a coastline parish. We have a lot of coastlines, and one of my concerns is that the gun-for-drugs trade is one that I believe Portland have some running in. People use the parish to access Haiti because it is one of the closer points. Therefore, I am of the concern that there are a lot of illegal guns in this parish," he said.

According to Bell, he doesn't think the police are aware, but it is a cause for concern.

"A gun in a fool's hand is a dangerous weapon. It is vital that a level intelligence be done. I just want to say to the police that from where I sit, from the information that we are getting, I doubt if any other parish have the amount of illegal guns that this parish have. You might take it simple, but the guns are here. If you walk the streets and hear Portland people talk, that's how you hear it. Cause when you go certain places you hear who strap and who nuh strap, and it is serious," Bell told our news team.

BIG STATEMENT

Superintendent Duane Wellington, head of the Portland Police Division, said that he hopes that persons come on board and tell the police what they know.

"While I understand what you (Bell) are saying, that is a big statement. If so many persons are aware that so many guns are in the parish, what are they prepared to do about it. Again it's not a police issue, it's a partnership because if we are aware that guns are in a particular community, then we are going to target that community based on intelligence gathered," he said.

Wellington insists that the police do act on intelligence when they get it.

"A lot of things have been happening, but we can't loud it up. If we loud it up, it's gonna defeat the purpose," he said.