Bar operators in St Elizabeth irate over increase in robberies
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica— Bar operators in southern St Elizabeth are complaining that they are under siege from robbers and the police have failed to protect them.
One business operator told OBSERVER ONLINE that the latest string of incidents occurred between Sunday and Monday where two bars were hit presumably by the same robbers. The robbery victim went on to lament the inaction of the police though a report was made and the robber left evidence behind.
“Dem rob my bar at 9:02 pm on Sunday, then rob a bar round Flagaman at 9:30 the following day. I went to Junction (police station) and made a report and all now, the police don’t come do any forensics or nothing, and the man dem strike again. One of the robbers dem even left his house key behind and the police dem nah take no action,” one bar operator, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said.
The robbers have been hitting bar establishments along the south coast of St Elizabeth in areas such as Southfield, Flagaman, Bull Savannah, Alligator Pond, Lane, Downs, New Forest, Sea Air, Malvern and Bellevue.
“Most robberies don’t even get reported because they have lost confidence in the police force, people are afraid to come out because this is going on. The recent robberies carry out by one set a man because ah the way dem do it,” the bartender added.
“They took out their guns and point the gun, and say ‘we no come fi kill nobody, we just hungry’ and then put all the customers dem pon dem belly in the dirt, then use a crowbar and tear off the bill acceptor part of the box and left wid the money. Same thing happen at the next bar dem,” he disclosed.
The incensed bar operator suggested that the police are either afraid to take on the robbers, or they are working with the criminals.
“What mi a pay my tax dollars for if the police caan preserve and protect?” he asked.
Official statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force shows that there has been an 8.6 per cent uptick in the number of robberies in St Elizabeth when compared to the corresponding period last year. There have been 38 robberies committed in the parish compared to 35 last year. Break-ins have also jumped by 43 per cent with 79 break-ins compared to 55 last year.
