MONTEGO BAY, St James — Councillor Charles Sinclair (Jamaica Labour Party, Montego Bay North East Division) has commended the intelligence-driven operations being carried out by the St James Police Division to rid the parish of illegal firearms.

Speaking during Thursday’s sitting of the St James Municipal Corporation’s (SJMC) regular monthly meeting, Sinclair told acting police commander for the St James Division, Superintendent Carlos Russell, that he was impressed by the gun find earlier this week.

“I want to commend the police for your efforts, especially in that significant find up there in Salt Spring that you have taken from the public space. What I saw are things that should be in a war zone… probably somewhere in Ukraine and Russia where they’re having their battles, but not in our space,” said Sinclair, who is also a Government senator.

“It obviously signifies that the police are gathering sufficient information in order to carry out their job,” he added.

On Tuesday, the St James police seized five illegal firearms, including three high-powered rifles, in a section of the volatile community. It was reported that lawmen were conducting foot patrols in the community about 3:00 pm when they saw a group of men who immediately fled into bushes.

The area was searched and the weapons found. No one has been held in connection with the gun find, the police reported then.

Also praised by Sinclair on Thursday were residents who have been assisting the police in carrying out their operations by providing information.

“In commending you, we must commend the citizens that work with you in that regard. We appeal to them to continue working with you to ensure that we rid our streets of illegal firearms and that the… perpetrators of violence are brought to your attention and you do whatever it is that you have to do,” Sinclair told Russell.

He added, “Some persons, as they say in Jamaica, you can’t tame them. It is only one thing they understand and that is your job.”

As at May 31, the police have seized 314 illegal firearms across the country. This is a two per cent increase when compared to the 314 that were removed from the streets last year during the same time period.