THOMAS

Deon P Green, Gleaner Writer

London, England:

The police will be targeting persons who intelligence has led them to believe have turned the provision of guns into a business in Jamaica.

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas told Jamaicans in London that the conclusion was based on evidence collected from crime scenes, which has shown that the same guns that are involved in criminal activities in one parish are being used in other parishes across the island.

Addressing the Jamaica National Building Society/Gleaner Company sponsored 'Outlook for the Future' forum in London recently, the police chief said: "The evidence collected from crime scenes, for example, the gun that murdered John Brown in St. Thomas, is the same gun that has been used in St. James, Kingston, Clarendon and other parishes. Therefore, the possibility exists, from intelligence, that some people tend to either loan or rent the firearm that they have."

He said such intelligence would allow the police to target those theorised to be using guns as a business.

Ganja for gun

Speaking on the connection of illegal guns to the drug trade, the commissioner said that, over the past three years, there has been a movement of ganja from Jamaica to Haiti, which is being exchanged for guns. He said that, over the past three months, thepolice had acquired 10 new boats and are able to police in an effective way some of the coastline to stem that problem.

Those attending the forum were also told that, while guns were also coming into the island from countries in Central America - including Colombia, Nicaragua, Honduras and Venezuela - a significant number of the guns on the streets in Jamaica were coming from the United States, which was the largest supplier.

Speaking of successes, Commissioner Thomas said the transhipment of cocaine through Jamaica has seen a drastic decline as a result of new strategies and technologies employed. He highlighted that, over the past three months, some 25,000 kilogram of ganja had been taken off the street. He said this was more ganja than had been taken off the street in 2006.

The Police Commissioner said that, to stem the high level of crime in Jamaica, there was a need for greater partnership with communities and the police. He said there was the need for greater cooperation at the community level with the police so that there could be more trust and security in the welfare of residents.

Fostering relationship

Commissioner Thomas said several programmes were being implemented to foster a greater relationship between communities and the police.

The series of fora has been held since 2003, focusing on various social, economic issues in Jamaica and seeking to have greater involvement from the diaspora through discussions and providing the most-updated first-hand information. The fora are held in England, the United States and Canada.