Reward for Information on Riverton Fire Increases to $300,000

A reward of $300,000 is now being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in starting the fire at the Riverton City disposal site in March.

Making his contribution to the 2015/16 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on April 22, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, said the reward has been increased from $50,000.

Persons with information are being asked to call 311 or visit the official Crime Stop website at www.crimestopjamaica.com and click the ‘report a crime’ option, then complete and submit the form.

Minister Arscott once again expressed “deep regret” to those persons whose health was affected by the fire. He also thanked the public and private sector partners, “which worked with us to extinguish the fire.”

The fire, which started at the site on March 11, was determined to have been deliberately set and affected sections of the Corporate Area and St. Catherine for about two weeks.

It was the largest ever at the site. The smoke from the fire spread across several communities, affecting householders, schools and businesses, and caused the rescheduling of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). The Government expressed regret at the incident.

The fire was extinguished through the combined efforts of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Jamaica Fire Brigade, National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), and other public and private sector agencies and partners.

Crime Stop is a partnership involving the community, the police and the media, designed to involve the public in the fight against crime. Crime Stop encourages the public to give information by offering total anonymity to all callers and, for those who wish, a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest, recovery of stolen property or the seizure of illegal drugs or guns.

The programme is administered by the National Crime Prevention Fund and is governed by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ).