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Rohan Barrett and Deputy Superintendent of Police Camendo Thoms
The police in Spanish Town have moved decisively to bar bus and taxi operators from parking on a property housing a shopping centre and gas station along Young Street.
This has been done on Friday despite the fact that the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation and the property owner, Rohan Barrett, had given permission for the use of the property.
The Municipal Corporation and Mr Barrett had entered a formal agreement to accommodate public passenger vehicle operators on the property where they would load and off-loading passengers.
The Corporation even installed public notices on the premises, advising the public that the area was an authorised bus and taxi stand.
But the police removed the public notices, saying they had not been consulted by the Municipal Corporation and that the loading and off loading of passengers on the property had contributed to at least ten murders in 2024 due to its proximity to two bordering crime hotspots.
Mr Barrett, in an interview with Radio Jamaica News, explained that he has had dialogue with the police but they have refused to acknowledge the validity of the notice.
He claimed that the gas station operating on the premises has also approved the activities of the PPV operators.
The property owner is crying foul as he believes he is being mistreated.
But, Deputy Superintendent Camendo Thoms, Commanding Officer for the St. Catherine North Police, maintains that extortion by criminal elements remains a major concern for the police.
He again questioned the validity of the notices, even as the Municipal Corporation confirmed with Radio Jamaica News that it had authorised them.
He stressed that, until the ministries of Transport and National Security as well as the municipal corporation confirm in writing that the actions of the property owner, and the PPV operators are permitted, then the police will maintain their position.
Spanish Town Mayor and Chairman of hte St. Catherine Municipal Corporation Norman Scott told Radio Jamaica News that a meeting will be held next week with all stakeholders to arrive at a resolution.
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