KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has welcomed a declaration by the leader of the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP), Mark Golding, who said he will cooperate with efforts to respond to Sunday’s mass murder of eight persons in the central parish of Clarendon.
In reacting to the mass shooting, Golding said he was prepared to support a bipartisan and constitutional response to the crime.
The parliamentary opposition has opposed the routine use of enhanced security measures such as the State of Public Emergency, saying the Holness administration’s use of it is unconstitutional.
But Holness says the opposition’s cooperation must rise above efforts to gain short-term political advantage.
“The challenge is actions rather than statements. The cooperation that is needed is on the legislative agenda……I come to the table with the perspective that everyone is a patriot looking to ensure the best for Jamaica.”
Meanwhile, the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches has expressed sadness and outrage over the Cherry Tree Lane massacre.
In a statement on Wednesday, the group condemned the brutal act of violence.
“We are especially saddened and distressed by the fact that among those killed was an eight-year-old child, women, and the elderly,” said the JCC.
The church group added, “We condemn this horrible act in the strongest terms and unequivocally affirm the value of human life, which scripture declares is made in the very image of God. Undoubtedly, this incident has further traumatized a community that has seen disruption in the past…”
It also said that the incident serves as a reminder that crime and lawlessness continue to plague the country.
The group has also offered support to the families and loved ones of victims of this incident.
And as the police stepped up pressure on criminals involved in Sunday’s mass shooting, one of the prime suspects was killed on Wednesday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Steve Smith, or ‘Thicka’ or ‘Fly Brain.’
The police say he is suspected of being involved in numerous contract-related killings and other severe and illicit activities in Clarendon and other parishes.
According to National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang, three people were directly involved in Sunday’s mass shooting.
One of them surrendered to the police on Wednesday, while Smith, who was the second suspect, engaged the police in a shootout and was killed, and the police are still seeking a third suspect.
Chang said the shooters involved in Sunday’s attack are contract killers, and nine people have already been taken into police custody.
Wednesday’s operation was part of a recently launched joint security effort led by the Jamaica Constabulary Force in collaboration with the Jamaica Defence Force and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency.
Its mission is to identify, apprehend, and bring the perpetrators to justice and to restore normalcy to the affected communities.
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