JAMAICA-Forty-eight hour curfew imposed on the part of St. Catherine

KINGSTOWN, Jamaica, Police in St. Catherine have imposed a 48-hour curfew in part of Portmore, St Catherine, after gunmen terrorized villagers, allegedly firebombing 11 houses – eight of which were destroyed; and leaving at least 47 people homeless, including 27 children.

28-year-old taxi operator Raneel Haughton, also known as ‘Rum Punch, who is said to have been just getting off work, was killed in a hail of bullets.

An 80-year-old woman was hospitalized for burns to her hands and legs, injuries she suffered as she tried to escape her burning house.

Police in St. Catherine believe the incident stemmed from a longstanding rivalry between gangs from neighboring areas called ‘Gulf’ and ‘Mexico,’ who brokered a truce almost a year ago.

However, three weeks ago, a similar attack was staged in the area known as ‘Mexico,’ which left 15 people homeless, including ten children.

Residents fear the truce is irreparably broken, and police are preparing for reprisals.

Law enforcement believes that the attacks are directly related to ‘turf’ control and says they are prepared for possible reprisal attacks vowing to track down those involved in yesterday’s incident.

“As we conduct our investigations, we will pursue every lead to neutralize these gangs. We will not allow them to dominate our space and carry out their acts of violence at will,” said Deputy Superintendent Hopeton Nicholson, acting commander of the St Catherine South Police.

Nicholson acknowledged that policing some parts of the area is challenging due to the informal clusters of houses erected behind zinc fences.

Deputy Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey, however, has sought to assure residents that the police, with assistance from the Jamaica Defence Force, will increase deployment to the area to ensure their safety.

“We have to look at our deployment strategy and all of that. But I believe, right now as we speak, there are adequate resources to bring that level of reassurance to the citizens,” he told The Sunday Gleaner late yesterday.

The curfew, which began at 6 pm on Saturday, is scheduled to end at 6 pm on Monday, and all residents in the area must remain within their premises unless otherwise authorized by the ground commander.

Jamaica recorded 786 murders between January 1 and July 29 this year.