Grants Pen residents wary of community going back to the days of crime and violence

Several residents of Grants Pen, St Andrew, say they do not want to return to the days when bloodshed and hostility were the norm in the community and citizens resented the police.

The call for cooperation with the security forces comes on the heels of today’s police fatal shooting of a man and fiery protests by residents.

A resident said, “We not going to let anyone drag down the community that some of us work so hard to lift up.”

At least three sections of the community were blocked and fire set to the debris in today's protest.

Motorists were greatly inconvenienced with many of them having to turn around at various points.

One motorist said stones were being hurled at them.

Two schools in the area were dismissed earlier than usual when the protests began.

The police say the deceased man, Jadean Gooden, otherwise called ‘Six', was killed about 4 a.m. during an operation.

The police say the operation targeted several communities in the division and several persons were processed.

Gooden, a labourer of Grants Pen Drive, had in his possession a Taurus pistol with a magazine containing five nine-millimetre rounds, the police said.

While a barber was murdered in the community on Sunday, head of the St Andrew North Police Division, Acting Superintendent Randy Sweeney told The Gleaner that crime and violence is trending down in the space.

“Since the start of the year, the community is doing fairly well in terms of crime. The community is in strong support of the police and the initiatives,” the divisional commander told The Gleaner.

One of the initiatives is the ‘Stand United’ peace football cup which was held in December.

“The police and the community are working closely to continue with the reduction in crime and violence,” Acting Superintendent Sweeney said.

“We want the police to work with us because we are willing to work with them. We also want the youth dem to value life and no more bloodshed. No more,” an elderly resident said.

The police told The Gleaner that the business community is also on board with the anti-crime strategy.

They are reportedly spearheading a major Labour Day project for Grants Pen on Friday.

- Andre Williams

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