JP makes impassioned plea as fear grips Spring Village

Those words came from the mouth of 86-year-old community matriarch Luna Bailey, whose impassioned plea Thursday was greeted with nods of approval and shouts of affirmation, as she added her voice to mounting calls against crime and violence.

Her message was well received amid heightened tension and fear gripping the community following the barbaric slaughter of elderly sisters Christine and Lola Lewis. The sisters were found dead inside their bedrooms with their throats slashed. The house was ransacked with investigators theorizing robbery as the motive.

Bailey, a respected justice of the peace, almost suffered a similar fate in 2017 when a robber, who lives next door, left her for dead after using a board to bludgeon her in the head. Luckily she survived and is using her past experience to encourage persons to tell the police what they know.

“I got a broken jawbone and if I did not see who hit me at the time it probably would have been cold like this one,” she said standing at the piazza of her business establishment during a peaceful march organized by Citizens Action Against Crime (CAAC), a civic group headed by renowned social activist Randy Finnikin. “But I saw the person and I went to the police and that is where justice comes. Let justice prevail in the community.”

Like her ordeal, Bailey believes the persons behind the death of the Lewises dwell amongst them.

The respected senior citizen says it’s the first time ever she’s experiencing such level of callousness in the community.

“This was a peaceful community,” she said pointing to the increase level of fear hanging over them. “We can’t afford for thieves, for killers, for robbers to take it over. Take it back, take it back.

And the police can do so much and no more if you don’t tell them what is happening and what you know. Please inform someone what you know so that justice can be given.”

It has been a difficult time for her and the community, she said, since the gruesome discovery, but argues “It is time to put it right” by those who need to come forward and tell the police what they know.

“I’m just begging that we need no more violence in this community. Spring Village citizens, let us say no. Say no to violence. We not gonna have it. We don’t want it. We don’t need it. It needs to stop,” she appealed.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Old Harbour News (@old_harbour_news)

Meantime, SSP Christopher Phillips, head of the St Catherine South Police Division, said he too could feel the level of tension and fear while walking through the community during the march.

He told residents that the fight against criminal elements will require of them to strengthen their own internal security mechanism, while incorporating transformational programmes with special focus on youth mentorship.

“When I walk through your community I realize that you have a lot of law-abiding, decent, educated people who live in Spring Village. I am giving you my outmost commitment to work with you,” he said. 

Work has already started in concert with the police to address some of the deep-rooted issues that foster crime and violence, said Finnikin.

“What we are doing is preserving our own lives, that of ourselves, that of our children, so we can’t get tired now,” said the CAAC convener.

Speaking to Old Harbour News afterwards, Bailey said the death of Christine Lewis, who is a dear friend of hers and fellow justice of the peace “has taken a toll on me”.

“It gives me sleepless nights. This community is very family-oriented,” she said. On the last Saturday before she died, Bailey said both Christine and herself spent most of the day together discussing several matters.

Bailey’s attacker Akiem Campbell was sentenced to three years imprisonment after pleading guilty to charges of robbery with aggravation, burglary and wounding with intent. He has alreadyserved his time and though she sees him regularly she is unfazed by his presence.

“People are fearful for their lives. People are very, very fearful. I’ve never seen this community in this kind of mood,” she said but “we must get rid of the criminals.”