KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) has condemned the murder of Marjorie ‘Madge’ Morris, former Councillor for the White Horses Division in St Thomas.

Morris was shot dead at her home in Yallahs, St Thomas this morning.

PNP President Dr Peter Phillips and the entire leadership of the party have expressed shock and sadness by the news.

“This morning’s sad news is particularly shocking as the party continues in mourning over the tragic death of our comrade and colleague, Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, Member of Parliament for East Portland, who was murdered over a week ago at his home,” said PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson in a statement a short while ago.

See statement in full:

The President of the People’s National Party, Dr Peter Phillips, MP, and the entire leadership of the Party are expressing shock and sadness by the news of the tragic death of former PNP Councillor Madge Morris for the White Horses Division in St Thomas.

This morning’s sad news is particularly shocking as the Party continues in mourning over the tragic death of our comrade and colleague, Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, Member of Parliament for East Portland, who was murdered over a week ago at his home, said PNP General Secretary, Julian Robinson.

The News of Madge’s murder has compounded the dampened spirit and sorrow among the entire membership of the organisation who are preoccupied with the burial arrangement of Dr Bloomfield. Although she was not presently serving in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, she maintained her activism by serving the people of her community and parish through voluntary efforts.

Mr Robinson said, the killing of the former Councillor and PNP activist, continues a catalogue of wanton acts of criminality across the country that leave too many individuals and families in mourning and rob the community and the nation of its best talents.

He said, the security of every Jamaican, regardless of status, must be assured by the government. It is particularly troubling that while we are experiencing vicious attacks on our elected or former elected officials, and heightened level of threats, the government has proposed to withdraw or minimize the security details of former ministers of government.

With extreme sadness and grief, we extend condolences to the children, extended family, friends and membership of the political organization in St Thomas on the tragic death of our beloved PNP stalwart Madge Morris.

The PNP continues to maintain that no Jamaican should have to face this viciousness in their own country. We, therefore, urge the security forces to do what is necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, more importantly, we call upon anyone with information who can assist the police within the investigation, to provide whatever information known so that those responsible for Madge’s murder can be apprehended and brought to swift justice.