KINGSTON, Jamaica — Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie, has expressed alarm and concern in the aftermath of the deadly gun attack on Councillor for the Greenwich Town Division, Karl Blake, and his assistant Maxine Simpson.

Blake is reportedly recovering in hospital but Simpson died last night.“An attack on anyone is of grave concern to me, but I am particularly disturbed about an incident of this nature, where a sitting councillor and his assistant are shot in the divisional office, which is the place of service to the people of Greenwich Town,” McKenzie stated.He said as local government minister and a former councillor in what is now the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, he can truly say that he understands the deep sense of anguish that the friends and families of both victims are feeling right now.“As a Member of Parliament, I also feel the emotion that I am sure Portia Simpson-Miller is experiencing as MP for South Western St Andrew” McKenzie said, adding that he trusts that the police will be quick in their investigation.He joined the Mayor of Kingston and the many Councillors in the KSAMC, who have expressed support for Blake, and condolences to the family and friends of Simpson.