KINGSTON, Jamaica— West Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz has expressed “shock and disbelief” at the murder of 24-year-old Kimberly Baugh on Saturday and has called on the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to provide more resources to deal with the recent upsurge in crime in the parish. 

on Saturday and has called on the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to provide more resources to deal with the recent upsurge in crime in the parish. 

The police report that Baugh, who was five months pregnant, was among five people who were cleaning up after a party at Orange Bay in the parish when unknown assailants opened gunfire hitting them.

Baugh and the injured people were taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead. 

Vaz, in a release today, extended condolence to the grieving relatives and the community of Orange Bay.  

The incident follows the recent gruesome murder of retired British couple, Florence and Halford Anderson in the farming community of Mount Pleasant.

Vaz decried the upsurge of crime in Portland, stating that the peaceful nature of the parish is under threat. 

He said that the culture of crime which the Government and the JCF are “relentlessly trying to eradicate elsewhere  across Jamaica will not be allowed to take root in the parish.”.  

He implored Portland residents to utilise conflict resolution as a means of settling disputes.  

Vaz, however,  said he was heartened by the fact that in both murders, suspects have been identified.