Dear Editor,

A total of eight people were brutally murdered in Cherry Tree Lane within the parish of Clarendon quite recently, while at least nine others were injured.

These killings of Jamaican citizens powerfully demonstrates once again that the crime problem is out of control and demands urgent, strategic, and widespread surgical police and army action through a well-funded crime reduction plan which will bring down the major criminal gangs operating with rampant impunity in this country with transnational connections.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered a high-level police investigation into the murders and the deputy commissioner of police in charge of crime Fitz Bailey has publicly stated that all the required police resources will be utilised to apprehend those involved in these murders and bring them before the courts.

There is no doubt in my mind that Jamaica has some of the most savage criminals, and an all-out effort must be made by the security forces to go after and apprehend all the gang leaders and their gang members within the country, principally those operating across western Jamaica. This will undoubtedly require billions of dollars of additional funding to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has stated unequivocally that he is willing to work with the prime minister and National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang to cauterise the country’s escalating crime rate. Might I add here, unapologetically, that lottery scamming, cyber crimes, and illegal narcotics must be tackled with full police and army manpower. The message must be clear to these brazen criminals that they must turn themselves in to the police or else the police will take all the required steps to find and arrest them. They must understand as well that if they challenge the security forces at any time they will be taken down with lethal force.

The security forces require the full support of the Jamaican people, and I implore my fellow Jamaicans to work with them to arrest the country’s serious crime problem. Jamaicans must now unite. Enough is enough!

Condolence to the families of those who were so brutally murdered.

Robert Dalley

robertdalley900@yahoo.com