MONTEGO BAY, St James

Public and private sector members here yesterday vowed to support the senior cops that will be deployed to the St James Police Division, even as they bemoaned the removal of Superintendent Warren Clarke as the parish’s divisional commander.

On Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas announced that effective March 6, 2007, St Thomas crime chief, Superintendent Steve McGregor, will be dispatched to take control of the St James Police Division, which has recently recorded some of the most grisly multiple killings.

He will be backed in the police division by Deputy Superintendent Mevral Smith, of the St Catherine North Division and Deputy Superintendent Ralsford Hardie of the Kingston Central Division.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Warren Clarke, Deputy Superintendent Michael Scott, Deputy Superintendent Rudolph Taylor and Detective Inspector Paul Bernard who went to the Area 4 Headquarters, Kingston Western Division, Mobile Reserve and St Elizabeth respectively were transferred out of St James.

Dr Horace Chang, Member of Parliament for North-West St James constituency, where Norwood – one of the inner-city communities which has contributed significantly to the wanton blood-letting – is located, expressed his confidence in Commissioner Thomas’ judgement.

“I didn’t have any complaints against the police down here but I have confidence in the commissioner. It took Mr Clarke (Superintendent Warren Clarke) a little time to get settled in… he found his way around but I have to stick with the judgement of the commissioner who sees to the best interest and operations of the force to make some redeployment. I just hope they work,” Dr Chang told the Observer West yesterday.

Meanwhile, Pauline Reid, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also expressed confidence in the decisions taken by the hierarchy of the security force, welcoming Superintendent Steve McGregor, amidst her disenchantment with Superintendent Warren Clarke’s transfer.

“We welcome Superintendent Steve McGregor and pledge our support to work with him in tackling the issue of crime. We feel confident that he will bring about new initiatives and strategies that will help further in the practice of preventative crime fighting measures rather than a reactionary approach,” said Reid.

“I must say, however, that we are somewhat saddened to see Superintendent Warren Clarke go, as the Chamber has worked very closely with him on a number of issues affecting the city and he has been very supportive and always willing to go the extra mile in solving crime in the city,” she added.

Horace Peterkin, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, argued that he supports the transfers if they will lead to the reduction of crime. He was, however, forceful in his demand for the removal of corrupt members from the police force.

“We definitely need to see a change in what is happening in the country with regards to crime and violence if these moves are going to help us to achieve some level of improvement, then I support them. Most importantly, we need to get rid of corruption in the force, which by the own account of the police are responsible for a lot of stuff which is happening in the country right now,” Peterkin pointed out.

Last year, a record 178 murders – more than 10 per cent of all murders islandwide – rocked St James, home of the north coast tourist capital of Montego Bay. Meanwhile, 27 homicides have been recorded on St James police blotters during the month of January this year including the shooting death of five men one of whom was beheaded after the slaughter.