Race Course residents cite high unemployment as factor in crime surge

"We acknowledge that they do need to find some form of avenue to find things to do because the unemployment rate is very high down here. "The area has been thrown up for awhile, especially with the closure of the Monymusk Sugar Factory and other entities, and job is hard to find, I think maybe creating too much idle time for nuff of the younger guys," he surmised, pointing out that the persons who have lost their lives in the community recently are all below age 30. 

 

He said the community members are now living in fear because of the upsurge in crime. 

 

Superintendent Christopher Phillips, head of Operations for the Clarendon Police, who spearheaded a walk-through in Race Course on Tuesday, said the initiative was a success.

 

"We've had three murders in a short space of time, so we're concerned for what is happening here, and so we're doing more assessment of the area for further action," he said. 

 

"Residents are really welcoming of the police. They're happy to see us. Persons are expressing their frustration with the level of violence that has started to impact the community. And as the police, we really want people to have a peaceful Christmas, given the kind of stress we have with COVID-19, and so we really don't want that to be mixed with crime at this time," he added.  

 

Lothan Cousins, Member of Parliament for Clarendon South West, has called for the declaration of a Zone of Special Operations in the community.