Winston Maragh, President of the Association of Local Government Authorities of Jamaica (ALGAJ)
PNP Councillor Ainsley Parkins was fatally shot in his vehicle by gunmen in Southboro Thursday morning.
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Winston Maragh, President of the Association of Local Government Authorities of Jamaica (ALGAJ),
By Clinton McGregor
Winston Maragh, President of the Association of Local Government Authorities of Jamaica (ALGAJ), says Thursday's shooting death of People's National Party Councillor for the Southboro Division, Ainsley Parkins, has sent shockwaves throughout municipal corporations across the island.
In an interview with Radio Jamaica News on Friday, Mr. Maragh, who is mayor of May Pen, urged the authorities to ensure the killing of the councillor is not the start of a trend to attack politicians.
He lamented that Mr. Parkins was killed while overseeing work in his division, adding that "all our members are saddened" by the incident.
Mayor Maragh said councillors must now seriously consider their security arrangements.
"It is now causing us to think about the possibility of councillors, as an elected representative, to look at having a security person around them at all times, whether it be a security guard or a police officer," he suggested even as he acknowledged that the police force is stretched for personnel.
Mayor Maragh called for councillors to protect themselves and be more aware of their surroundings.
Councillor Parkins was fatally shot in his vehicle by gunmen in Southboro Thursday morning.
Investigators are trying to establish a motive for the killing.
Nearly 30 spent shells were found on the scene.
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