MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Despite recent criminal activities, including the incident one week ago when murder suspect Dave Wilson challenged the security forces in a four-hour stand-off, business and development leaders here still believe this south-central Jamaica parish is safe.

In interviews with the
Jamaica Observer on Monday, president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Omar Fennell and managing director and proprietor of Golf View Hotel Peter Campbell were gung-ho about the parish’s safety and security, while president of the Manchester Parish Development Committee Anthony Freckleton was more cautious in his views.

“I do believe that Mandeville, and by extension Manchester, is still safe and even possibly safer [than before]. A lot of the gang-related stuff that used to happen in Manchester is no longer happening. As a matter of fact, with the solve rate for crimes here I think it is as safe as it has ever been,” said Fennell.

“A couple of isolated incidents have happened but that does not make it any less safe [as] there are incidents that are interpersonal,” added Fennell.

He told the Observer that Mandeville is one of the safest towns and Manchester one of the safest parishes in Jamaica, notwithstanding some violent incidents.

“The isolated incidents are usually interpersonal, so two people have an issue then this happens,” said Fennell in an obvious reference to the incidents last Tuesday which left two men dead and the police seizing two firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

“The good part about it is that these [weapons] were [seized]. They are no longer on the streets. As to why they were there in the first place, I guess the investigations will lead to that… We don’t know what the exact circumstances are but it doesn’t mean that it makes the parish any less safe,” added Fennell who commended the police for the reduction in major crimes in the parish and the seizure of illegal weapons.

“We have been seeing quite a bit of success with the police clearing up and taking out some of these so-called gangsters and persons with weaponry. There is still a lot to be done. However, from where I sit I see where a lot of work is being done, and the fact that we had two months this year with no murders at all in Manchester is still a great accomplishment,” said Fennell.

For his part, Campbell told the Observer that Mandeville is absolutely still safe.

“I think the thought process to look at crime in pockets will never really and truly address the issue in its entirety… Because criminals can travel border to border, parish to parish very easily, so it has to be a holistic approach,” argued Campbell.

“I think we need to look at the entire island of Jamaica and what can be done and should be done, what are the crime-fighting methods that this Government plans to implement and already has implemented,” added Campbell.

The business operator charged that there needs to be more social intervention programmes in the parish to reach people who are easily influenced and whose living and economic situations can lead to a life of crime.

“A large part of it is from a social standpoint: If the average man doesn’t feel that he has a voice, that justice or the law is on his side, if he feels that his back is against the wall, the future for himself or his family is not bright and he has no hope, then we see an increase in crime,” said Campbell.

“The reverse is also true. Once you feel that there is hope, ‘My kids have a brighter future…my day-to-day efforts are actually going to equate to something, or equate to my kids even having a better life,’ then it removes the need — or some of the need — to gravitate towards crime, so I think we should be looking at that,” he added.

Meanwhile, Freckleton said while Manchester is relatively safe, migrant criminals are becoming a factor.

According to Freckleton, the Manchester police need to firm up strategies to tackle crime, including the monitoring of parish borders.

“We need a crime plan for our parish based on all those happenings. It is so much easier, with the new highway coming down to Williamsfield, getting in and out of Manchester. Maybe it is about time we reconsider looking at the locations of our police stations in the parish. [For example], should one be near the Spur Tree area, and more appropriately located to detect criminal movements coming into our parish?” questoned Freckleton who is also calling for the reactivation of dormant community groups including neighbourhood watches.

“A greater use of technology is what is needed, and from what I am hearing, the residents are not feeling as safe as they were some years ago. We need now [for] the security forces to all come together and, based on the reality of our parish, come up with better strategies to be able to be more proactive as it relates to emerging criminal activities.

“We need to reactivate the neighbourhood watch groups because, as we all know, the police and security forces alone can’t manage the crime — it is going to take partnership. Reactivate those groups so that the residents can play a greater role in this crime management by monitoring activities in their various communities,” added Freckleton.

He also called for the adequate monitoring of deportees with violent and serious criminal records who call the parish home.

“The fact that some of the deportees are resettled in Manchester without the proper monitoring for those with criminal records — because some deportees come for some other reason like overstaying their visitation — [exacerbates the problem]. We have to use more technology now to monitor them… more partnerships with other agencies to assure the residents that we are safe and secure,” said Freckleton.

Last Thursday, Inspector Berthlyn Lloyd, sub-officer in charge of the Manchester police Community Safety and Security Branch, said up to September 10 Manchester recorded a 16 per cent reduction in major crimes, with 169 incidents recorded compared to 200 for the corresponding period last year.

However, she said break-ins were showing a worrying trend.

“For break-ins we have 79 reported in comparison to 62 for last year… we are having an increase, and this is a concern for all of us so we have to continue to work together to see how best we can bring the break-ins under control.

“This affects business places, dwellings, and other areas. The business places mostly targeted are those with poker boxes. Some of the areas are not properly prepared to have those [boxes because] some are board structures,” said Lloyd, who also indicated that reported cases of rape have increased by five to 13, in comparison to the same period last year.

FRECKLETON… Manchester is only relatively safe.

CAMPBELL… I think the thought process to look at crime in pockets will never really and truly address the issue in its entirety.

FENNELL… I do believe that Mandeville… is still safe and even possibly safer.