MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica-Prime Minister Andrew Holness is appealing to law-abiding citizens in Spanish Town, St Catherine to not support gangs that have been wreaking havoc on the town.

“There is a sense, and we have seen it displayed publicly, that somehow the gangs are protectors of the community or are your friends. The gangs are not your protectors, they are not your friends, they are using you,” he pointed out.

“The plan of the Government is not to target and harm communities in pursuit of the gangs. The strategy of the Government is to separate gangs and criminals from the community and law-abiding citizens. I take this opportunity to appeal to the law-abiding citizens of Spanish Town not to support the gangs, not to be enlisted in their activities,” he added.

Holness was speaking against the background of the recent unrest in the town, which was sparked by the killing of an alleged gang leader by the police, during the handover of a housing unit under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) in Blackness, Westmoreland on Friday.

The prime minister said the Government is satisfied that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has made the necessary allocation of manpower and other resources to bring the situation in Spanish Town under control.

He noted that a briefing from the JCF to the National Security Council on January 23, underscored that gangs continue to pose a “clear and present danger” and a threat to public order, citizen security, public services and commerce in the town.

“The Government of Jamaica is paying close attention to this situation, not just from a security perspective, but from a developmental perspective. The Government is investing several billion dollars into critical infrastructure [such as] the Spanish Town Hospital, which is an over $2 billion investment, and the building of a new police divisional headquarters, which is another $2 billion, in addition to planned works on roads and water,” he outlined.

Holness said that the administration will not allow gangs to derail or hijack the development plans for the town.

“Spanish Town has incredible opportunities. It has an incredible history, it has great commerce and great potential for development, but it is all being suppressed by gangs and crime.

“Let us use this as an opportunity to once and for all rid the community of gangs. The police have been instructed that in their activities, in targeting the gangs, innocent citizens, and law-abiding citizens must be protected.

“This is finally an opportunity for the liberation of Spanish Town and indeed, other communities,” he said.

The prime minister noted that gangs account for more than 70 per cent of murders in Jamaica, and the security force has been able to reduce murders by targeting the gang members and eroding and depleting their capabilities.

“Last year, we can say we reduced murders by 20 per cent. We will continue to target the gangs and we ask for the support of the citizens in these communities where the gangs have infested and captured the life of the community,” he said.

He noted that there has been significant improvement in police-community relations which will be further enhanced.

“We will bring down the murder rate and we will keep the people of Jamaica safe,” the prime minister pledged.

-JIS