MANDEVILLE, Manchester — A multi-agency approach has been adopted by the Manchester police to combat violence in troubled communities in the parish.

Cedar Grove, Green Street, Albion, May Day, and adjoining communities have been under curfew for some time, having been deemed hotspots by the cops following several major crimes.

The most recent incident was the fatal shooting of 31-year-old shopkeeper Jomo Trowers, otherwise called Not Nice or Jemini, and the wounding of two men, ages 23 and 49, on December 23.

That incident sparked a lockdown of the communities, with a nightly curfew crippling bars, shops, and other small businesses.

During a recent walk-through of the communities, head of the Manchester Police Division Superintendent Carey Duncan announced a planned social intervention by his team.

“We chose this area because we have some issues roundabout here… In 2024 we had some serious challenges, [but] for 2025 we made some serious inroads and we think we did pretty well in our crime reduction strategies in Manchester,” said Duncan.

“What we saw to the end of the year though was some persons with ill intentions and wanted to erode the gains that we were making over 2025, and that happened over on this side, so we saw where we had three persons shot, one unfortunately fatally at the entrance of Cedar Grove,” added Duncan.

He revealed that 21-year-old labourer Jwell Channer, better known as Crawb Up, was arrested and charged in connection with that shooting. Channer appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered remanded. He is scheduled to return to court on February 25.

According to Duncan, “We had other incidents around the area, and based on that we had to take a proactive approach in terms of how we manage the space to ensure the safety and security of the persons within the space.”

He reiterated that intelligence suggests that criminals overseas are masterminds behind violence in the troubled communities and urged the young people to shun them.

“I would not want you to sit here in Jamaica and allow persons who are living outside Jamaica… to stay where they are and press your button here… We know that these things are happening. We know that people are influenced and induced by monetary gain, a motorcycle here and there, because they want you to be loyal to them.

“I want to say to the young people of this community that those people are living in their lavish environment wherever they are. This is our little neck of the woods and we must protect it,” added Duncan.

He sympathised with small business operators in the area who are hurting, while explaining the rationale for a curfew, including intelligence of possible reprisals and counter reprisals.

“A curfew is one of the last things we want to impose in any community. We really don’t want to limit anybody’s movement. However, whilst livelihood is very important I believe lives are also important,” said Duncan.

“The truth is, we find, even in our analysis of the crime situation in the parish, that we have a particular time frame where we are seeing violent incidents happening. Most times they are happening at bars and shops,” said Duncan.

The superintendent said among the social initiatives planned are a football competition and the launch of a police youth club.

“The partnership we are seeking to build, we know that it is only a handful of people that are creating these problems… Identify who these persons are and sooner than later I guarantee you that the level of normalcy will return to the community and you can open your businesses for as long as the law permits,” said Duncan, who on Tuesday played football in Cedar Grove with a group of boys.

“We had a very nice football match up there, and when I looked at the faces of these young boys in the area, to think that these young men and the persons who are going to be taking over… as a community we can’t glorify the badmanism [or] the chopping of the line and the scamming,” added Duncan.

The police initiative was supported by the Social Development Commission, Heart/NSTA Trust, the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Manchester Parish Development Committee, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, and Councillor Karl Smith (People’s National Party, Knockpatrick Division).

“Change must come. The consensus has to be between you and us… Even though we did good in 2025, I believe we can do much better in 2026 [and] the partnership must continue… to ensure that all of our objectives are met. What we want in Manchester is for crime to be totally eradicated,” said Duncan.

Councillor Karl Smith (third right) (People’s National Party, Knockpatrick Division) and members of a police team speaking with residents of Cedar Grove, Manchester, on Tuesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)