KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie is urging residents of Albion Boulevard in Yallahs, St Thomas to assist the police with their investigation into the murder of former People’s National Party (PNP) Councillor Marjorie ‘Madge’ Morris.

Morris, who represented the White Horses Division in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, was shot dead at her home in the community yesterday morning.

Police said they were summoned by residents who reported hearing explosions coming from Morris’ home about 6:30 am. When the cops arrived, they found the 67-year-old woman lying on her kitchen floor with multiple gunshot wounds.

She was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

In a statement condemning the murder, McKenzie said: “It is particularly disheartening that a lady of her age and status in her community could have suffered death in this way

Whatever our political affiliations, we are servants of the people at the local level and we are human beings who have a right to our lives.”

He also expressed hope that the police will find the perpetrators of this “evil act”, but urged the immediate and wider community in St Thomas to “give our law enforcement officials all the information you have right away”.

“It is the least that you can do to honour Madge Morris, who, even after her active time as a long-serving Councillor, continued to be a stalwart community development advocate and contributed to economic growth as a farmer,” the minister continued.

“Madge Morris was known and appreciated in and beyond the boundaries of St Thomas. On behalf of the ministry and all the municipal corporations, I wish to express condolences to her family and friends, and the hope that whoever has robbed them of her, will swiftly be brought to justice,” McKenzie said