Chuck wants Romie’s killer caught

Member of Parliament (MP) for St Andrew North East, Delroy Chuck, is convinced that finding the person or persons responsible for the murder of Omar 'Romie' Wright will go a far way to restoring calm in the tension-filled community of Grants Pen, St Andrew.

'Romie' was killed by unknown assailants in the community on June 7. Detectives probing his killing called in entertainer Jahshii for questioning. He was never charged and neither was he listed as a suspect.

Last Friday morning, a convoy transporting the dancehall star was attacked and shot up. The entertainer escaped unharmed but six members of his entourage were shot and injured.

Chuck said that there is no evidence that the two incidents are related. He, however, stressed that finding Romie's killers would go a far way in reducing the tension in Grants Pen.

"One of the things I am trying to encourage is to really try to find out exactly who is responsible for the killing so that the person can be brought to justice," said Chuck, who has been MP for the area since 1997.

"Unless you know who the killer is, then parties close to Romie may just take it out on anyone on the other side, which is the usual problem that causes a cycle of violence," Chuck added.

Once a war-torn inner-city community, Grants Pen began rewriting its own history in the mid-2000s when residents joined hands with the police, political representatives and other interest groups to lay its fearsome chapter to rest. He said the current conflict, if allowed to escalate, could retard the progress that has been made. It is for that reason that he has called on residents to provide no shelter for wrongdoers.

"We need to expose wrongdoing and expose all of those who feel that they need to carry guns around. The impression that I am getting is that persons are so afraid that several of them are being seen with firearms. If they are caught with the firearms then the likelihood is that they will be serving 15 years in custody," he said.

He said that he will not be assisting anyone caught with an illegal firearm.

"If they are found with firearms, I am telling them not to come to me to assist them in any way, and I have never done that. I have always had a zero tolerance [approach] when it comes on to anyone carry an illegal firearm," Chuck said.

The MP said that he has spoken to the feuding parties and it appears that misinformation may be at the heart of the current conflict.

"I think it is fair to say that the parties feel that there should be retaliation, there is no doubt, you get that feeling. But, we are hoping that it can be calmed down," the MP said.