SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland - JAMAICA : 'Enough is enough!' Westmoreland....Police Civic Committee launched in the wake of upsurge in crime....Up to two days ago, the murder tally in the parish since the start of the year stood at 90, representing an increase of 52 over the 38 recorded over the same period last year.

BY HORACE HINES Observer West reporter  Thursday, November 05, 2015    

SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland - Central Westmoreland's Member of Parliament, Dwayne Vaz, along with members of the business community and other stakeholders in the parish, last week, launched the Westmoreland Police Civic Committee in the wake of a frightening spike in murders in the area.

(L) ACP BUDHOO... murders are really multiplying in
 this parish. (R) VAZ... right now crime is much higher
 than anyone would desire to have.

According to Vaz, the initiative is aimed at providing "whatever assistance that can possibly be offered to the police" in their fight to tame the crime monster.

Up to two days ago, the murder tally in the parish since the start of the year stood at 90, representing an increase of 52 over the 38 recorded over the same period last year.

"With regards to crime in the parish of Westmoreland, right now it's much higher than anyone would desire to have. So basically, we came together, myself and the assistant commissioner in charge of Area One, to discuss how we can find new ways and to get more people on board to support the fighting of crime in Westmoreland," said Vaz.

"So we came together and, along with the custos (Hartley Perrin), we decided that we had to invite some business persons; let us put our heads together, come up with creative ideas and new initiatives on ways of how we can curb this problem."

Area One Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) WinchroyBudhoo, expressed confidence that the partnership with the Westmoreland Police Civic Committee would reinforce the police's fight against crime in the parish of Westmoreland.

"We believe that the people of Westmoreland can make a difference and so we got them together under one roof to demonstrate to the rest of the parish that enough is enough!" ACP Budhoo said.

"Murders are really multiplying in this parish, and we are going to put a stop to it. We are going to be focusing on the wanted persons going about and killing people, and we are working with the citizens all over the parish. So this is just the beginning and you are going to see the results going forward."

Businessman Russell Hammond, who was present at last week's meeting, also expressed optimism that the establishment of the police civic committee would prove to be an effective tool in the fight against crime. more