Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer
President of the St. James Taxi Association, Dion Chance, airs concerns of the association to host of Television Jamaica's (TVJ) Michael Sharpe. From left are head of the Western Jamaica Media Association, Janet Silvera (partly hidden); Horace Peterkin, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association; and MoBay businessman, Mark Kerr-Jarrett. - Noel Thompson/Freelance Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE ST. James police were in for harsh criticism during the staging of Television Jamaica's (TVJ) 'Your Issues Live' programme at the Montego Bay Civic Centre in Sam Sharpe Square on Thursday night.
It started when a female resident of Hendon, Norwood, charged that recently, a group of armed men barged into her yard, but despite her desperate calls to the Montego Bay police, she was given the runaround.
DIVULGED ELSEWHERE
"The crime situation in Norwood was not what it is now. It is because of the corrupt police dem. Whatever is told to them, it is divulged elsewhere," she said to loud applause.
The woman said about three months ago, four men armed with 9mm pistols confronted her son inside her yard and when she called the Montego Bay Freeport police and informed an officer on duty, he questioned if she knew what a gun looked like.
"When I realised they were not coming, I decided to hold on to one of the men who was still holding his crisp gun. I don't know where I got the strength from, but I held on to him," she claimed.
She said, however, that by the time officers attached to the Mount Salem Police Station arrived at the scene, the men had already left.
NOTICEABLY ABSENT
Moderator of the programme, Michael Sharpe, said the St. James police had been invited to participate in the live debate, but they were noticeably absent.
The live broadcast saw an estimated 400 residents in attendance, including president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pauline Reid, Member of Parliament for North West St. James, Dr. Horace Chang, as well as representatives of the St. James Parish Council and Secretary/Manager, Ian Reid.
A small contingent of visitors was also part of the audience.
