Despite seven of 19 Jamaican police divisions being under a state of emergency (SOE), murders and shootings are still higher as at October 19 this year than for the corresponding period in 2018. Last week alone, there were 34 murders across the country, at a rate of nearly five per day.

The St Andrew South Police Division continues to be a black eye for law enforcers, with 14 murders committed there between October 13 and 19. While the Government is urging residents to hold strain as the police try to rein in rival gangs during the SOE, which was declared on July 7, violent crime continues to rear its head. There were six killings in a 48-hour period last week, including a triple murder in the White Wing Avenue community.(stabroeknews)…[+]