Stop hide di criminals dem - Victims' relatives plead for residents to speak up

A mother who recently lost her youngest son to gun violence in Central Kingston has appealed to residents in her community of Southside to support the police as they seek to apprehend violence perpetrators.

The mother sat several metres away from a community meeting which was organised by the police yesterday afternoon in the community. The grieving mother, who buried her son last month, was struggling to hide her pain as the meeting unfolded close to where her teenage son was gunned down.

"A long time dem fi do dis because maybe my son would a be alive today. Di people dem fi stop hide the criminals dem, because dem must can see by now say di violence a mash up the community," the mother said. "It hurt me to the core, but mi just affi be strong. A no everybody ago understand the belly pain weh mothers go through when dem lose a child, but dis just cannot continue. My son no involved inna none a dem foolishness deh yet still him lose him life like that."

Newly appointed commander for the division, Superintendent Berrisford Williams, said more needs to be done than just apprehending those involved in criminality.

"But it is about building a relationship with you the people so we can find out what the police can do to bring peace and safety to your environs," he said.

R.M.