KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of National Security Robert Montague is reporting that the crime situation in St James, that has resulted in several murders in recent weeks, has been cauterised.

Speaking on the crime situation in the western parish in Parliament Wednesday, Montague said the two main perpetrators behind the recent shooting incidents have been arrested.

“Today I can report that, through the efforts of our security forces, we have cauterised the situation in St James,” Montague told Parliament.

“To date, the police have arrested the two main perpetrators of this violence, recovered three guns and 66 rounds of ammunition, and seized a car involved in some of the shootings,” he said.

The police have also reportedly detained some 98 people, 37 of whom have already been charged.

In the last 14 days, criminal gangs in the second city of Montego Bay and several rural communities in St James have shot and killed 23 people and shot and injured 13 people, Montague said.

This has undoubtedly triggered alarm and concern in the west and throughout the country.

After noting that the situation in St James has been cauterised, the minister admitted that there are still some “trouble spots” and criminals who are determined to create mayhem. He said too that the security forces anticipate one or two more incidents as they continue their operation in the parish.

In the meantime, Minister Montague is calling on Jamaicans to remain calm.

“I would like to urge all of us as Jamaicans to remain calm in the face of an attack on the State that has been manifested over the last couple of days,” he said.

“Panic and knee-jerk responses cannot and will not solve our problems, neither will panic confront crimes,” he continued.

Pointing out that the crime management strategies and programmes he outlined in his sectoral presentation earlier this year are coming together, he also called on citizens who may be feeling “helpless, hopeless and powerless” to join the fight against crime in their community.

Anika Richards