PORT MARIA, St Mary — Senior crime fighters here have planned a series of community meetings in response to a startling increase in the number of murders recorded in this north-eastern parish since the start of the year.

A total of 15 people have been killed so far in the parish, compared to one in the corresponding period last year, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joseph Foster. He said eight of this year’s murders have been cleared up, effectively meaning that the prime suspect has been charged or killed.

DSP Foster’s announcement of the upsurge was met with expressions of shock from some people in earshot at the monthly meeting of the St Mary Municipal Corporation last Thursday.

A few months ago, the police had told the corporation that they had achieved notable success in further lowering the parish’s annual homicide rate. St Mary recorded 27 murders last year, down from 32 in 2020. The declining trend is now threatened by the sharp increase.

“Our murder stats this year so far are not going good,” lamented DSP Foster. “We see where some of these murders emanate from some simple disputes [such as] over parking spots.”

Noting that there is a challenge as it relates to dispute resolution, DSP Foster added that some cases are referred to the disputes resolution centre located at Gayle, St Mary.

Fully aware that the centre is not enough to staunch the bloodletting, the cops in St Mary intend to give community policing a boost. They promised to meet with residents of Port Maria on April 28, Castleton on May 12, Gayle on June 9, Richmond on July 28, Carron Hall on July 7, Annotto Bay on June 19 and August 18, and Oracabessa on September 1.

“These are meetings we have planned to see how best… we can take some positive action and see how best we can reduce these incidents of crime,” DSP Foster said.

The good news is that there has been no increase in other crimes in St Mary.

DSP Foster said six shootings have been recorded so far this year, the same number reported for the corresponding period in 2021. Two of those reported this year have been cleared up.

As it relates to aggravated assault, he said four have been recorded since the year started, compared to five last year. All of those reported this year have been cleared up.

Three break-ins have been recorded in St Mary since the year started, reflecting a decrease from the 13 cases reported in the same period in 2021.

Turning to robberies, DSP Foster revealed that five have been reported so far this year, including three that have been cleared up. For the similar period last year there were seven cases of robberies recorded in the parish.

He said there is a trend of two men on motorcycle(s) robbing people in St Mary after they withdraw relatively large amounts of money from banks in the neighbouring parish of St Ann.

“We have to be very vigilant out there while conducting business transactions at the financial institutions; be very vigilant. And we have to look out for the trend that is two men on a motorcycle. If needs be, seek assistance from the police or private security company, but we need to be careful,” DSP Foster cautioned.