ST THOMAS, Jamaica – The People’s National Party’s (PNP) candidate for Western St Thomas, Marsha Francis, says that some areas of the constituency are “near a melting point and on the cusp of anarchy.”  

According to Francis she will ask the police to work with the community to consider all strategic steps required to avert the current trend of violence and prevent a regressive conflict. 

Francis was speaking after the carnage of Tuesday evening where two policemen were ambushed and shot dead in Yallahs, St Thomas while playing dominoes outside a business entity.  

She noted in a press release Wednesday that the murders “confirmed the extent to which violence and intimidation are racing her constituency and the entire parish of St Thomas away from the national economic and social development targets, and away from Jamaica’s mission to be the ideal place to live, raise a family and do business”. 

In an effort to avert further violence and prevent the creation of political overtones, and the likely consequences, Francis called on residents to fight to create and maintain an environment that allows peaceful self-expression.

“This is not the time for publicity stunts nor for playing politics with the issue of crime.  Creating an environment free from fear requires a robust, decisive response from the police and local community, which I will help to lead,” Francis said.  

Francis, who represents the Cedar Valley division in the St Thomas Parish Council, warned of the “risk of the situation in St Thomas developing into a crisis”, stressed the need for all stake holders to play a constructive role in defusing what now maintains.