Gun crimes in St Catherine SW has become untenable, says Dr Waul

Reacting to the latest murder in the constituency in which three people were shot, one fatally in Herring Lane, Church Pen Monday night, Dr Waul said: "This gun crime problem has been so frequent for so many years now that our constituents have become numb to the issue, and people have come to expect things like what happened in the Old Harbour Market and Herring Lane just recently as the norm.

"The incident which occurred in Herring Lane should be one that sparks  public outcry as even an innocent teenage child was shot, but as I said previously we have become numb."

Despite the entire St Catherine being one of four parishes under a public state of emergency (SOE), declared from September 5, gun crimes including murders in the Old Harbour Police sub-division during the period continues.

According to Dr Waul the brazen nature of criminals to carry out their deadly acts without fear of the security forces, suggest that the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has lost the plot to bring crime under control. 

"The frequency of gun crimes in SW St Catherine has become untenable and scenes of marauding gunmen shooting wantonly in crowded areas at times in broad daylight have become common place despite the presence of the SOE.

"It has become quite evident that the governing party has ran out of solutions to curb this problem, which based off current happenings will only get worse," he said in a prepared statement submitted to Old Harbour News.

“Decisive change is necessary to save our beloved home constituency from permanently plunging into a chaotic place which is similar to other places in Jamaica where out-of-control gangsters have unbridled opportunity to rob and kill anyone including women and children.”

Thirty-five murders have been recorded in the Old Harbour Police Sub-Division since the start of this year, well above the 25 homicides registered in the division for the entire 2018.