Western Jamaica’s crime situation has become an enigma for the Jamaica Constabulary Force. And various leaders have promised to be tougher on gunmen, which begs the question. How much tougher can the police get on gunmen?
The Government pledged to the nation that increasing the mandatory minimum sentence for possessing an illegal gun to 15 years would ‘Radam’ the criminals. But, still yet, since the passing of the New Firearms Act, it seems criminals have gotten more daring than before.
It’s apparent that the security forces hardly know what to do with crime. Parishes like Hanover, which people once regarded as safe havens, have become the Biblical Ninevah. Hence, the writing is on the wall that it will take more than the security forces to solve the crime situation in Jamaica.
Like many people have been saying all along, I think it will take a joint effort of security forces and civic-minded citizens to rid the country of the crime cancer. The citizens know all the criminals and where they hid the guns. But they are afraid to work with the police because some security forces members are said to be in cohorts with criminals.
Superintendent Sharon Beeput, the police commander for Hanover, says the police in the parish will be stepping up their efforts to end the rampant lawlessness.
In the recent monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation on Thursday, May 11, 2023, Beeput admitted that the crime situation in the parish is ‘out of sync’ with her desire to make the parish safe and that she intends to use every tool at her disposal to end the lawlessness.
“It’s never good for me to report on any situation such as murders because that is something that we do not want to hear about, but it is actually happening, and we (the police) have to take some drastic action,” said Beeput.
“So, when drastic actions are taken, I do not want you people to be uncomfortable. I want you all to work with the police because actions will come based on all that I will report here. I am not here to say what type of actions, as my superiors will do that.”
Superintendent Sharon Beeput, Commander of the Hanover Police
Beeput went on to name Green Island, Cauldwell, Hopewell, McQuarry, and Sandy Bay as the communities that are of paramount concern as it relates to rampant criminality. She said that, at present, the police are maintaining a strong presence in those areas, and she is urging law-abiding citizens to support law enforcement efforts.
In the meantime, too many illegal guns are in Jamaica. Therefore, we desperately need to choke off the pipeline through which illegal guns flow into the country. There are only two ways illegal guns can enter Jamaica, sea and air.
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