Gunmen on the Move, Bishop Calls for More Social Intervention

There was a tense calm amid police presence in the community of Cassinor Drive, when our news team visited the community Saturday, hours after gunmen killed 66-year-old vendor Sharon Ricketts at her home and injured a man. 

One prominent bishop is calling for a greater sense of social intervention in Portmore, St.Catherine to help stem violent crimes,  on the heels of the murder of an elderly woman at her home Cassinor Drive, Naggo Head.

Police reports are that about 7:45 p.m Friday, the man was riding his bicycle along the roadway when gunmen attacked him and shot him several times. They also fired shots at the vendor’s house, hitting her, before escaping. 

One resident has theorized that the elderly woman met her demise in an act of vengeance against her son, maintaining that she was innocent and an upstanding member of the community. 

Presiding Bishop of the Holiness Christian Church in Jamaica, Dr Alvin Bailey believes politicians and churches can significantly help to stave off crime and violence in Portmore communities. “These Communities in which there is violence, are very close to the Politicians, to the councillors, and to the members of parliament and I think they need to be able to speak to these persons to create a sense of harmony and peace to foster dialogue,” he says.

Bishop said the church needs to be empowered, He patrols the area and commends their efforts to restore order in the community.

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