KINGSTON, Jamaica— Former Member of Parliament for Western St Mary Robert Montague has condemned the murder of Tacky High School watchman who was found with gunshot wounds on the school compound in the parish Sunday.

Montague speaking with OBSERVER ONLINE Monday said that the entire community is devastated, as the killing of the watchman, identified as 44-year-old Hewit Jarrett, follows an ongoing series of murder in the area.

“The whole community of Gayle is devastated because there has been an unusual series of unsolved murders within the community. People are in fear; there has just been a breakdown of law and order in the community and therefore it is hampering economic activities and entertainment.”

Montague, after speaking with the school’s principal said the school community is “apprehensive and fearful”.

He said that while not wanting to speculate, residents are wondering if there is a connection between the recent fire at the school and the watchman’s murder.

“People are wondering when will it end? Is there a connection to the crime of the fire? What’s the motive? But we don’t want to speculate at this time there has just been this great fear within the community and the surrounding area.”

Montague questioned whether the shooting death of the watchman is a continuation of a series of murder or a new spate of attack citing that there are more questions than answers.

He added that he has spoken to the victim’s relatives and they are traumatised as this has been the second murder in the family.