MORANT BAY, St Thomas — With a surge in crime and violence that began in Seaforth, St Thomas, during the latter part of 2022 continuing into the first month of this year, Morant Bay Mayor Hubert Williams is hoping social intervention will be the answer to restoring calm in the community.
According to head of the St Thomas Police Division Superintendent Allison Byfield, in January 2023 there were 21 major crimes in the parish. There were four murders, three of which took place in Seaforth.
“We are looking to put our resources in that space, we cannot allow Seaforth to have the same amount of bloodshed this year that happened last year,” said Byfield during the recent monthly meeting of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation.
There has been an increased police presence alongside members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), but the jury is still out on the effectiveness of this move.
A concerned Councillor Joan Spencer (Jamaica Labour Party, Seaforth Division) said she is overwhelmed and frustrated with the ongoing crime in the area and she hopes to see a change.
“Even with the presence of the police and JDF members we continue to hear gunshots in every section of Seaforth,” she complained.
Superintendent Byfield said a search was conducted in the area approximately two weeks ago and no weapon or person of interest was found.
According to Mayor Williams, he visited the community recently and, based on his analysis, the implementation of social intervention strategies would be an effective tool to address the scourge of crime and violence being experienced there.
“I believe one of the main things that Seaforth needs is social intervention. For any society or space to experience order, two things must be in place: social development alongside economic development, and I believe both are absent at the moment,” he said.
