Chang takes aim at shottas

National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang said that 'shottas' "cannot be dealt with by social investment".

The minister, who was speaking during the Sectoral Debate in the Houses of Representatives yesterday, said that hardened criminals are not people who can be helped by counselling or through the provision of stipend.

"Many of them, especially in Area One [Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland], are earning huge sums of money, either as advance fee scammers or big traders, who buy the weapons to kill our people," Chang said.

"These are persons who are empowered by the possession of a gun. They cannot be empowered by counselling and $5,000 per week. It is for this reason that we must organise the specialised operations teams of the police and mobilise the military as is necessary," Chang said.

According to the national security minister, the country has highly trained police officers and soldiers who have been given the task to "apprehend these killers and lock them up".

He, however, warned that shottas risk being shot by the lawmen if they engage members of the security forces, who he said are "trained and equipped to deal with them accordingly".

Jamaica, as of May 27, had recorded 594 murders, which is seven per cent above the corresponding period last year. Chang said that Area Four, which covers most of the Corporate Area, is experiencing a 32 per cent decline when compared to the corresponding period in 2021. However, the four western parishes have seen a combined 53 per cent increase for the corresponding period. Chang said that bringing down organised criminal business players is critical to the country achieving success in lowering the murder figures.

"These criminal business leaders sit atop the criminal spectrum and either scam, sell drugs or collect the money from the extortionists and then 'rinse' it and buy guns to give back to the 'foot soldiers' on the streets," the minister said.