Adrian Frater, News Editor

Frater

Western Bureau: ESCALATING VIOLENCE in several St James communities is causing traumatised residents to flee their homes, fearful for their lives.

The parish's murder rate is pushing past 200, the highest in any single year.

In the Granville police division, several communities are affected. Some 28 murders and numerous shootings have taken place since the start of the year. Councillor for the area, Michael Troupe, said the situation is becoming increasingly dismal and is causing massive dislocation.

"In areas such as Fuller, people are fleeing because of the constant violence and the area is fast becoming deserted," said Councillor Troupe. "Even if a fully furnished, five-bedroom house was being rented for $5,000 per month, nobody would want it because of the extreme violence around there," he stated.

Councillor Troupe said the situation in some sections of his division had become so bad in recent times that criminals, who had become quite brazen, were now openly challenging the police for dominance.

no fear of the police

"It is not the police fighting criminals in some of these areas, it's the criminals fighting the police. The gunmen we have around us seem to have no fear of the police," he noted.

However, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Denver Frater, commanding officer for Area One, has made it clear that the police will not be surrendering any space to criminals and plans to bring order to all communities.

"We intend to make every single community safe, but we need the cooperation of all law-abiding citizens," says ACP Frater. "We will not and never surrender any community to criminals."

Compounding the problem for those residents who have chosen not to flee, is the stigma attached to the community, which makes it difficult for them to get jobs once they reveal their address.

"I know of a case where a young lady has some nine CXC passes but is finding it difficult to secure employment because business people are not employing people from her area. Right now she is contemplating moving away from the area to increase her chance of gaining employment," Councillor Troupe explained.

leadership structure

He said plans are now being put in place to establish a leadership structure in some areas to deal with conflict and other situations that lead to violence.

"We are looking to develop a 'block leadership' structure as a type of first responder to deal with conflicts. We are seeking to convince ex-policemen, teachers, nurses and other persons, who are respected by the various communities, to spearhead this initiative," said Troupe.