PM Holness vows to retake Spanish Town from criminals

   

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has vowed to retake Spanish Town, St. Catherine from the hands of criminals.

 

The old capital has been the base of two of the country's largest and most prolific gangs, the Clansman and One Order gangs, with their influence spreading to other parishes.

 

According to the police, the Clansman Gang, has been linked to at least 800 murders dating back to 2014.

 

Fifteen members of the Andre "Blackman" Bryan faction of the gang, known as the One Don Gang, were sentenced last year.

 

But acknowledging that criminal networks have taken command, Mr. Holness said gangsters have hindered further development of the town. 

 

"The town historically for a long time has been overrun, taken over by criminal gangs that are really strangling the town for its true potential," he admitted. 

 

But how will the authorities reclaim the town?

 

"For us to take back the town, the JCF will be an important element of that strategy. But it is not the criminals that we need to get out of the town, more so it is the people we need to get on the side of the police, because the criminals have woven themselves into the fabric that they have protection and safe haven. But if we can get the people there to see that the police will guarantee their safety and their security, that the police is their friend, that the police will create an environment where everybody can thrive, then that fabric will unravel and the gangs won't feel safe there," the Prime Minister reasoned.   

 

Admitting that basic physical and organisational structures are needed, Mr. Holness said infrastructural changes are already being implemented. 

 

"That is why we have made this massive investment in literally building a new Spanish Town Hospital. I mean, we're putting up a new wing, but it's literally almost a new hospital being built. Then we're going to do the police station."

 

In addition, he said investments will be made to address roadways in Spanish Town. 

 

"[In] the approach to Spanish Town, we have to figure out how we're going to change that small bridge that has been there for such a long time. There are some communities there, which are very old communities," he acknowledged.