No murders in this once murderous Old Harbour community

Still regarded as one of Jamaica’s major transhipment points for the drugs for gun trade, the community of approximately 8,000 residents has had its fair share of gun violence, the majority gang-related.

Last year Old Harbour had a record 35 murders, Old Harbour Bay contributing largely to the highest murder tally in the history of the division.

However, since the start of this year there has been no homicide to date, a refreshing news disclosed by DSP Manderson, head of the police’s sub-division of Old Harbour, which covers Old Harbour Bay.

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“Since the start of the year Old Harbour Bay has not recorded a single murder,” Manderson revealed during a virtual community meeting last week.

“I know many persons will say ‘how come? That can’t be.’ Yes, Old Harbour Bay has not recorded a single murder and is one of few policing districts in the entire country that has not recorded a murder to date,” he stated.

Murders in the general Old Harbour area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the St Catherine South Police Division, have dropped significantly by 66 percent so far this year when compared to the corresponding period.

Nationally murders have fallen by roughly two percentage points, the nightly curfews imposed to curtail the spread of the coronavirus major contributory factor.

It is the aim of the police to spread this positive result being seen at the moment across the entire area, Manderson said.

He said “we want to keep it this way and even spread that even across Old Harbour that we can go without those major losses of lives of our residents and citizens”.