KINGSTON, Jamaica — Two deadly drive-by shootings in the Maxfield Avenue area of Kingston have prompted the police to intervene in a dispute between residents of the community and the Jamaica Public Service (JPS).

The lawmen today reported that they became increasingly concerned after two people were killed and another injured in two recent shootings in the area.

According to the police, their response was severely hampered, as the area was extremely dark due to the lack of working streetlights. This recent block-out is attributed to residents’ attempts to illegally abstract electricity from the system set up by the light and power company.

Earlier in the week, residents had blocked the streets to highlight the threat to their safety stemming from disconnections. 

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Terrence Bent said in a release today that a meeting he initiated yesterday with JPS on behalf of the residents was successful. He expects that the collaboration between the police, citizens and JPS will yield positive results going forward. 

The tampering reportedly caused significant damage to the JPS system, a concern raised at the meeting by JPS parish manager Ann-Marie Myrie-Chambers.  According to Myrie-Chambers, the company’s recent significant investment in repairs to streetlights in the area and upgrade of the system was being foiled due to illegal abstraction of electricity.