WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Relatives of missing fisherman and crab vendor, Oral Morris are in limbo, unable to follow the police’s advice in gathering 50 people to help them search for him. Their neighbours are too afraid, they said.

“We’d really like the help to search for my son because today make four days. We can’t get 50 people. If we can get the JDF [Jamaica Defence Force] and dogs,” begged his mother, Gloria Faval-Lawrence on Thursday.

She said the ongoing killings and gang warfare in the community has made it difficult to convince even half the recommended amount of people to help search.

According to the police, 25-year-old Morris, who is from Mint Road in Westmoreland, was reported missing by his family on Sunday, July 31. He left home on his motorcycle about 7:00 am with a bag of crab he intended to sell. At 5:00 pm that day residents heard gunshots and summoned the police who found Morris’ motorcycle on the ground near a cane field in Belle Isle, Grange Hill. Beside it was a bag with crab.

A police source told OBSERVER ONLINE that they are yet to find any clues that will shed light on Morris’ disappearance.

His girlfriend, Shanique Lawrence is appealing to anyone who knows his whereabouts to help get him back to her and their nine-month-old child.

“Justice mi a preach out, and if dem have him body please, wi need it back. If him nuh dead please let him guh. Everybody crying for him,” she appealed.

Lawrence described her partner as hardworking and humble. She said he was no troublemaker.

Morris is of dark complexion, medium build and about 173 centimetres (5 feet 8 inches) tall.

He was wearing a blue and white T-shirt, blue short pants and pink Crocs when last seen.

Anyone knowing his whereabouts is being asked to contact the Morgan’s Bridge Police Station at (876) 955-1375, the nearest police station or 119.

– Kimberley Peddie