KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—Prime Minister Andrew Holness has vowed that the state will bow to criminality and lawlessness, given the upsurge in violence at schools islandwide.
Holness pledged as he condemned the brutal killing of Carson Barrett, a 16-year-old student of the Grange Hill High School in the western parish of Westmoreland.
Holness also stressed that criminals who target children should expect no mercy.
Carson was shot and killed on Thursday while walking home from school with a female schoolmate, who was also injured in the incident. However, her injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Investigators say ongoing gang conflict between the Kings Valley gang and the Ants Posse gang is behind Thursday’s deadly attack.
“All Jamaicans and children must condemn the incident and violence in all its forms must be free to attend school and live in an environment that promotes peace and safety to help them fulfill their dreams and aspirations,” he said.
Noting that the legal framework is in place to deal with gangs decisively, the Prime Minister said law enforcers are equipped with resources to apprehend gangsters and preserve community peace.
Pointing out that youngsters are being groomed for gangs, Holness said, “The government is taking decisive steps to bolster the laws and equip the police to go after gangsters.”
The Prime Minister also reassured stakeholders in the education sector that the government would continue to act in its best interest to create a safe learning environment.
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