A group of angry residents on Monday morning mounted fiery road blocks along sections of the Terminal Road in Old Harbour Bay.
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By Racquel Porter
Residents of Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine took to the streets for a third day to protest the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Nigeria Bailey and 21-year-old Daniel McKenzie on Saturday by the police.
A group of angry residents on Monday morning mounted fiery road blocks along sections of the Terminal Road, calling for justice.
Residents and relatives of the deceased insist both young men were killed in cold blood.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force's Corporate Communications Unit told Radio Jamaica News on Monday afternoon that the incident occurred about 1:40 Saturday afternoon.
CCU said two firearms were seized.
But Mr. McKenzie's uncle gave a different account, arguing that his nephew was to be baptized soon and was a good worker who "[had] manners to everybody".
The uncle claimed the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) arrived late on the scene Saturday.
INDECOM revisited the area Monday and found spent casings.
"We have discovered two additional spent casings as well as the warhead that was found in the vicinity. [The find is] not uncommon. The scene was processed late at night and because of that, we would have to do another check in daylight. So that's where we are," said INDECOM's Director of Complaints Yanique Taylor Wellington.
She said while there are still blockages on the road, the residents have remained relatively calm and are facilitating both the police force as well as INDECOM to have access to the location for processing.
Senior Superintendent of Police Christopher Phillips, in charge of the St. Catherine South Division, said the officers will be working to rebuild the relationship with residents.
"We are going to work with the community to restore that; they just need to give us the time to do so. The necessary has been done in terms of the police officers who were involved in that operation, and of course, they, too, are entitled to be properly heard and that the investigative process is
done professionally so that we can unearth the truth of what took place," he said.
The protest presented a challenge for employees of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) as well as other power companies located in the affected area.
Some employees were airlifting by Jamaica Defence Force helicopter.
But JPS Director of Corporate Communications Winsome Callum said due to the critical nature of the plants, contingent measures were put in place.
Ms. Callum said the power company's ability to provide electricity to the nation has not been comprimised.
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