Low turnout at St. James school following double murder

   

There was a low turnout of students at Salt Spring Primary and Infant school in St. James on Friday following Thursday's double murder in front of the institution.

 

Twenty-two-year-old Imani Jarrett, of Refuge Lane in Flower Hill, St. James, and 30-year-old Odane Smith, otherwise called 'Puns', of Flower Hill, St. James and Logwood Whithorn, Westmoreland, were killed by a group of five men armed with rifles and hand guns.

 

The incident caused panic among the student population and teachers.

 

Radio Jamaica News returned to the school Friday where acting principal Trudy Ann Taylor said, of the 165 students, only 14 were in their classrooms. 

 

"Most members of staff are here, some are absent and they are a little bit emotional. They were impacted, traumatised by what happened. So you know, they are a little bit down today," she said.

 

Still, Ms. Taylor said the teachers are being encouraged to remain strong so they are able to support the children. 

 

"When the children come in on Monday, they will have to check in to the children's feelings, see what's happening with them. So they have to keep the children strong, they have to be strong for themselves." 

 

Councillor caretaker for the Salt Spring Division, Sylvan Reid, has expressed concern about shootings in the geographical area. 

 

"Yesterday was five, now it's six deaths, in less than a month. We will not have it, we can continue like this, and it must change. We are demanding for the government to put things in place, whether you're going to post police at the school, between the school. We have two critical services here. We have the school here, we have the clinic right there," he noted.