ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Head of the St Elizabeth police, Superintendent Kenneth Chin says the seven murders committed since the start of the year in the parish is the lowest recorded over the comparative period for the past seven years.

Chin, during his presentation at the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting on Thursday, commended citizens for using amicable means to resolve disputes.

“As of the end of April we have less lives lost in the parish [than] in 2022 which by any measure or any stretch of imagination, life is more important than everything else,” he said.

“When we look at the figures for murders from 2017 to 2023, over that seven year period it is the lowest murders have ever been in St Elizabeth… up the end of April and I continue to applaud the citizens of this parish for treating with their issues in a manner that doesn’t result in violence and death and also the efforts of the police on acting on information as they come to us,” added Chin.

He said in April, St Elizabeth recorded 10 major crimes.

“Two murders, three shootings and five robberies. We also had two major successes and the seizure of one illegal firearm,” he said.

He said the police are examining motives into the two recent murders in Balaclava and Vineyard.

“The first one in Balaclava police area at an entertainment event which was being held in the area. The victim based on [his] profile he has been in trouble with the law several times… at this stage we don’t know if his death was connected with his lottery scamming activities or other activities, but we know that based on his profile he has a lot of persons who are not with him,” said Chin.

“The second murder took place in the Black River police area in the district of Vineyard and this was a 62-year-old farmer. From investigations so far, two theories are there. Based on the interviews conducted we have not yet [received statements] to substantiate any of the theories, so the investigation is still open,” he added.

Chin said a suspect in a supermarket robbery in Santa Cruz who turned up at hospital after reportedly accidentally shooting himself in his foot, is being investigated for his alleged involvement in an attempted robbery and attack on a Beryllium money courier in Bogue Hill near Balaclava.

“He gave a statement which he said he was involved, but he is not committing that to a caution statement… although he said he was involved we don’t have any proof that he was involved other than his word which he has not committed to writing,” Chin explained.

— Kasey Williams