St Catherine councillor wants police post in Central Village

Councillor Donovan Guy of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation believes a police post is now necessary in the Central Village area due to the high level of violence, including murders occurring there.

"It has been 17 months since this community has been under attack. It (the attacks) have resulted in six murders so far, several houses burnt, residents moving out and constant lawlessness. I am fed up," said Guy, who was first elected 29 years ago as a Jamaica Labour Party councillor for the Twickenham Park Division.

He said that the calls from residents about the situation are heart-rending and as an elected representative, he needs security for those who elected him.

"I would recommend that the police use the football field to erect the post. It is in the middle of the community, therefore it would ease the problem especially in the Big Lane area," Guy said.

The veteran local government representative said that the crime is preventing orderly development of the community which has many law-abiding citizens.

"The crime is so bad that it is like the residents are under additional curfew from the criminals. The area has to be locked down by 4 o'clock in the evenings and no one wants to be accountable," said Guy. He said that recently work to improve water supply concerns had to be stopped out of fear for those doing the project.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Clive Blair, head of the St Catherine South Division, said he was not minded to comment as "We haven't received any communication from Mr Guy".