SENIOR Superintendent in charge of St James Egbert Parkins is urging the Chinese business community in the parish not to be afraid to report crimes committed against them to the police.

At the same time, the superintendent who was just over three weeks ago appointed head of the St James Police Department, is assuring the Chinese nationals that his department is moving to implement measures to protect them.

SSP Parkins told the Jamaica Observer West on the weekend shortly after a meeting with more than 120 Chinese businessmen at the Freeport Police Station, that a line of communication has now been opened between the Chinese and the police, which he believes will bear fruit.

“We believe that we have established a line of communication that will help both the Chinese community and the police to work together to stamp out the level of crime and violence affecting them,” said SSP Parkins.

“We have heard about crimes committed against the Chinese community but they have not reported them to us. But we have now established a line of communication so that if they (crimes) occur, the Chinese will have the level of confidence to report it to us, so that we can investigate them,” he added.

He argued that the lawmen were of the view that there are only a few persons in the parish committing crimes against the Chinese, but pointed out that because they are not being reported, the police are unable to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators.

The meeting on the weekend was held against the background of a number of crimes allegedly committed against Chinese nationals, in St James.

Vernon Chin, a Chinese businessman in the parish, who was in attendance at the meeting, told the Observer West that the Chinese nationals are very concerned about the level of crimes committed against them.

“Some of them (Chinese) are concerned about the robberies, attempted murders, threats against their lives and even extortions,” he said, adding that several Chinese nationals have packed up and left the country due to threats on their lives.

But SSP Parkins pointed out that the Chinese are not talking publicly, believing that if they do so, their lives would be placed at risk.

He told the Observer West, however, that arising out of the meeting, the Chinese have now realised that “the police are here for them and that we are willing to work together to ensure that crimes against them will be significantly reduced”.

He said Sergeant Peter Salkey — a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for almost 20 years — has been appointed as the liaison officer in the JCF to meet regularly with the Chinese businessmen.

“We will also be improving the policing in the town of Montego Bay as it relates to foot patrols and mobile patrols; a one-and-one communication with them (Chinese) whereby we will go to their businessplaces to see if they are alright and have a line open where they can call the commanding officer and other persons,” SSP Parkins added.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Salkey told the Observer West that the meeting on the weekend was called in an effort to allow the Chinese to voice their concerns about the alleged crime and violence committed against them.

“We have heard that they had concerns about crimes committed against them, so Superintendent Parkins decided to invite them to one place, so they came here (Freeport Police Station) and after we listened to them, we advised them about aspects of the law and what they can do to make themselves safer, and what they can expect of us,” Salkey explained.

He said he was looking forward to a good working relationship with the Chinese, pointing out that “at the end of the day we want them to feel safer as they continue to do business in Jamaica.”

And Mary Chaen, the spokesperson for the Chinese businessmen, described the meeting as very fruitful.

“I believe that today was a very grateful day. The Lord gave us today this opportunity to meet with important people, especially Superintendent Parkins and Sergeant Salkey, for us to open up to our community. We are doing business here and we like to be harmonised; we want people to understand how we feel because we like everybody,” said Chaen.

“You don’t have to be frightened about us, and we don’t want to be frightened about you. Our meeting was a success at the primary stage, at that it is very, very pleasing to us, so we are very grateful for the opportunity to let our voices be heard.”