KINGSTON, Jamaica — Following a series of fires in Whitfield Town, believed to be the work of arsonists, Member of Parliament for St Andrew South Western, Angela Brown Burke, is convinced that the police should be doing more to quell the flare-up of violence that has engulfed the area in recent times.

Over the past two months, more than 40 families have reportedly been rendered homeless by fires many believe to have been started by criminals.

Speaking with Observer Online, Brown Burke stated that she wants the police to put together an action plan that will restore residents’ faith in them. She shared that with many now living in fear for their lives in the surrounding areas, law enforcers need to be more proactive in their fight against crime.

“It is very disheartening what is happening. Over the last couple of months, I think things would have escalated. There have been several shootings taking place and the truth is that there is a level of tension and frustration in the community,” she said.

“Persons have been abandoning homes because they believe it is intolerable and they refuse to put themselves and their families at risk. The good thing is that there has been no loss of life but the hard part of it is that it is your savings, your investment, your peace of mind, it is starting all over again.”

“We have to have another dialogue with the police about what they’re doing,” she continued. “Persons in the community who are the source of the tension need to be identified but it is a policing matter that needs to take place.”

She went on to say that criminals continue to plague the community even with a strong police/military presence.

“I know they keep saying they need information and I understand that but we need a plan. We now have a new Commissioner of Police so I hope he has some new thoughts, new vision on how it (the crime situation) needs to be handled.”

One of the recent fire victims, who identified himself as ‘Dougy’, told Observer Online that residents in the community are living in constant fear. He shared that having resided in the area for more than five decades, the recent spate of fires and killings is the worst it has ever been.

“Right now it seems like the people living in fear now. Everybody fraid fi dem life right now because what is going on right now we don’t see wah dem a fight fah,” he said. “This thing cannot go on like this. It has to stop now.”