Several houses were firebombed in the Gregory Park community earlier this month.
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Deputy Superintendent Paulette Baker, territorial officer for the St. Catherine South Police
The St. Catherine South Police has partnered with the Social Development Commission (SDC) and the Justices of the Peace to assist in bringing about peace in Gregory Park.
Violence erupted in the Portmore community earlier this month after rival gangs exchanged bullets and firebombed several houses.
A strong detachment of police and military remain in the community.
Deputy Superintendent Paulette Baker, territorial officer for the St. Catherine South Police, says as part of the process toward unity, a social event will be held on Saturday.
Radio Jamaica News spoke with DSP Baker on Tuesday ahead of a walkthrough of sections of Gregory Park, including Mexico, Watson Grove, and Banga Gully.
She said the walkthrough was intended to encourage residents to come out and support the initiative to bring back peace in the community so they can "live comfortably and reduce the fear of crime".
DSP Baker said security will be beefed up on Saturday.
Undeveloped areas
Justice of the Peace Baldwin Tracey has called for the government to give more attention to undeveloped areas in Gregory Park, such as the Dyke Road.
A debushing exercise was carried out along the thoroughfare two weeks ago after six guns and ammunition were seized during a police operation.
But Mr. Tracey believes it should not have taken a call from the police for the road to be debushed.
He complained that the government has neglected some undeveloped areas and only remember them when squatters appear.
The solution, he suggested, was for the government to regularise these areas by removing squatters and putting them "somewhere else".
He added that intervention by the police and agencies providing social services to bring about peace in the Gregory Park area will be limited if they do not have the tools to act.
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