KINGSTON, Jamaica — Kingston’s Mayor Angela Brown Burke has expressed outrage at the recent flare-up of violence in and around the market district over the past three weeks.

In a news release today, Brown Burke said it has been reported that more than 20 people have been shot and injured in Western and Central Kingston over the period, with an unconfirmed report of at least 14 succumbing to their injuries.

Among the victims are two-year-old Demario Whyte, who was shot dead on Luke Lane on August 23, his father and uncle were also injured in that incident, and a  five-year-old girl who was among a group of four people shot and injured in a drive-by yesterday afternoon.

The latest victims were shot dead last night in the vicinity of Coronation Market and another man shot and killed on Blunt Street this morning.

Mayor Brown Burke, while acknowledging the impact the recent flare-up is having on business interest in the general downtown Kingston area, is at this time more concerned with the loss of lives, injury and the overall instability that it has created.

“The brutal attack on our children in recent times is incomprehensible. The brazen attacks taking place in broad daylight is evidence that these criminal elements among us are ruthless and with no compassion for the hurt being inflicted on the innocent. We must do all we can to ensure that the guilty be brought to justice,” Brown Burke said.

“We at the KSAC, and I believe all well-thinking Jamaicans across the island, condemn these shootings, and the effect it is having on our children who should be preparing to return to school after the summer break. Whenever we have these kinds of situations, especially at such a busy time of year, everyone is affected,” she continued.

Brown Burke said a meeting has been scheduled with the divisional heads of the various police areas in which the crimes have been taking place, for Thursday, September 8, 2016, at the KSAC’s Church Street office.

In the meantime, Brown Burke is asking residents to cooperate with the police by sharing whatever they know, so that the police can carry out their investigations and take the necessary actions.