ST ANDREW, Jamaica – Deputy Superintendent of Police Operations at the St Andrew South Division, Coleridge Minto, is reporting that there has been a reduction in murders and shootings in the division.

“The division has seen, in recent times, shootings and murders. And whilst we are seeing a reduction in terms of the data, year to date, we are still having some persons within the St Andrew South area, which we have an interest in. I share with you the data for this time last year, we had 33 murders when compared to 22, a reduction of 33 per cent. Shootings, 38 when compared to 33 this year, a reduction of 13 per cent,” Minto indicated.

According to Minto, the 10 most wanted men in the St Andrew South division are:

· Ronald Smith, otherwise called ‘Skull’ of a Brown’s Land Ashley Road address, who is wanted for wounding with intent.

· Romario Grant, otherwise called ‘Kaka’, who is wanted for murder.

· Jermaine Richards, otherwise called ‘Ritchie’ of a Peda Road address, who is wanted for murder.

· Cedric Powell, frequents the St Andrew South area including Bloomsbury Road and Valdez Road, who is wanted for murder.

· Christopher Duffus, otherwise called ‘Chipper’, of Oakland area, who is wanted for murder and wounding with intent.

· Brian Brown, otherwise called ‘Berger’, who is wanted for murder.

· Shantoni Cardis, otherwise called ‘Taiwan’ and ‘Chassie’, who is wanted for shooting with intent.

· Andrew Hall, otherwise called ‘Anton’, who is wanted for murder.

· Herbert Wallace, otherwise called ‘Ricky’, who is wanted for murder. He’s featured in the Riverton area for robbery with aggravation.

· Sean Campbell, otherwise called ‘Doshent’ who is wanted for murder in the Duhaney Park space.

They are being asked to turn themselves in no later than Monday, April 10 at noon at the Hunts Bay Police Station. They are to turn up with their legal representatives.

“So, we certainly want to say to the public that these men are dangerous and that they should not harbour them. And we encourage persons, who have seen them or know where they are, to call 119 or the nearest police station or certainly here at Hunts Bay… But these persons are to turn themselves in with their attorneys or legal representatives. We have an interest in them,” Minto said, adding that some of the cases date back to later than 2023.

“Well, I’ve identified some offenses that they are wanted for. And so, we were talking about murders, shootings, robberies, and therefore, those are major categories of offenses. And therefore, we do not want these persons to be in communities or persons to be harbouring them. And so we encourage them to seek legal representation and turn themselves in,” he added, noting that there are over 70 named gangs in the division with over 50 being active to date.

Minto also pointed out that two curfews have been launched in the St Andrew South division, namely in Seaview Gardens and the Whitfield Town area.

“We’ve had a murder this week in Whitfield Town, with one murder in Seaview and a double murder in the Whitfield town space. We have been having some shootings and murders across the division. Curfews were launched in both communities. And as we speak, the curfews are still in effect at this time. And it is with a view of bringing some amount of normalcy to these communities,” he said, adding that Whitfield Town is an area that is always on the police’s radar, while Seaview Gardens, which consists of lanes and avenues, has been relatively quiet, but with sporadic shootings from time-to-time.

He added that there has been a joint military operation with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF)in the division and that aerial support from the JDF called the Night Sun has helped with operations in dark areas, reducing incidents in areas on its radar.