St. James police cautious about issuing permits for events in volatile areas

By Nakinskie Robinson    

 

The St. James Police say they are exercising caution when it comes to issuing permits for events being held in volatile areas across the parish.

 

Superintendent Eron Samuels, commanding officer for the division, says illegal parties in crime hotspots are at the centre of shootings and killings in St. James.

 

He says the authorities are taking into account the role this plays in adding to Jamaica's crime rate and how it affects the tourism product. 

 

"One of the things that has hurt Jamaica and more than anybody else, St. James, is that US ranking where they're saying that violent crimes are likely to occur. You see if we play into the narrative, meaning party get shot up, somebody get injured, it plays into that narrative."

 

"But how it benefits law enforcement is that some of the persons who woulda think fi tek up crime might earn from you keeping the party, whether them sell peanut, whether them do this...but it impacts everybody. The more tourists will come, the more the hotels will be filled, because it's not just the bigger places that they come, a lot of them want to venture out to the other events. But you see when a tourist is there and if a tourist gets hurt, it's an international problem," he cautioned. 

 

Superintendent Samuels said the police also consider the reputation of an entertainer when granting permits for certain events.

 

He has also urged the police to desist from granting permits to events where there will be inadequate security presence. 

 

"If you're not able to police two events and you can only police one, first come [first] serve - one for the night. If it is that your space is hot, don't grant any. And be fair, tell the person. Don't allow the person to go away feeling that them get through; sit down and outline [the situaiton]," he advised. 

 

Superintendent Samuels was speaking on Tuesday at a meeting with party promoters.