A ghost town would be an appropriate description of Five Miles, in Mount Morland, Sligoville, St Catherine on Thursday, almost one week after two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and three alleged gunmen were killed during a firefight.

With no residents in sight, a mission by pastors of the 10,000 Men and Families Movement and the Spanish Town Minister’s Fraternal fell flat as their hops of meeting and praying with people who were affected emotionally by the traumatic event at a house in the community fizzled.

That did not stop Bishop Rowan Edwards, founder of the 10,000 Men and Families Movement, and Pastor Dalbert Simmonds, chairman of the Spanish Town Ministers’ Fraternal from offering up prayers.

Members of a Christian team looking at bullet holes in the house at Five Miles, St Catherine, which was the scene of a deadly firefight last Friday.

They said this was in the hope of blessing the space so that nothing similar to what unfolded last week happens again at the location or in the community.

They also prayed for God to cover and protect the police as they go about serving, protecting, and reassuring Jamaicans.

“I’m so sorry to know that this is happening in my country, at this juncture, when crime and violence has taken a nosedive.

It is frightening to know that this incident happened in this peaceful community. I’m very saddened to know that these two policemen were killed,” said Edwards.

“I do extend our condolence to the family members of these two policemen but I need some questions to be answered. Couldn’t the tactical team from the JCF organise a better approach? What I have noticed overseas, when there’s gunmen at one location, the approach is different,” Edwards said as he expressed hope that this incident will cause the JCF to bring more tactical training to its members who have to face hardened criminals.

Edwards was disappointed that no one could be located in the area to directly receive spiritual counselling when his team visited on Thursday.

“You see, because the area is so deserted, we can’t find who the family members are so we could counsel them. So, that’s our next move, to find the family members,” added Edwards.

In the meantime, Simmonds of the Spanish Town Ministers’ Fraternal said he was looking forward to praying for members of the family of the people involved in the incident and he was also disappointed that there were none in sight.

Bishop Rowan Edwards (left) and a fellow pastor pray with a policeman on Thursday at the scene of a deadly shoot-out between the security forces and gunmen in Five Miles, St Catherine, last Friday.

“Today, we are here, right on spot where this gruesome incident took place. The intent, really, was to bring some sort of comfort and prayer and counselling to persons affected in the area. But as Bishop Edwards said, the area is deserted at the moment, so we are not able to carry out that function as we want to,” said Simmonds.

“I want to take this opportunity, as the chairman of the Spanish Town Ministers’ Fraternal, to say to my brothers and sisters in this space, and the wider Jamaica, don’t allow the criminal elements to access or occupy your space.

You know, for me, what I heard on the news, a little girl pleading for her life, pleading with the gunman to put down the gun. As a father and a pastor, that was really disturbing,” Simmons said.

“We have to see to it that we put a stop to all of this madness that is happening with these young boys. Definitely, I want to also take time out to commend the JCF for the hard work that they are doing, bringing down the crime rate,” added Simmonds.

Having travelled to the space and not finding anyone to pray for and counsel, the pastors issued an invitation for those close to the situation who are in need of counselling, to reach out for help.

“We are busy people, but we took the time to be here to see if we could find persons to counsel, to offer support. We are extending ourselves. The Lighthouse Assembly is here and my church is in Lauriston. Persons from this area can reach out to me for counselling. Find a church to go to, speak to a pastor, get directive, get counselling, get help. There is sufficient help in this country,” urged Simmonds.

News of the incident in which two members of the JCF — Corporal Trevoy Shaw and Constable Devony Rose — were killed in the firefight, while three civilians — Errol Hussy, Malik Hussy, and Javon Cougal — were also fatally shot sparked outrage across the nation.

A 10-year-old girl was also shot in the incident. She remains in hospital with serious injuries.