Mayor Supports New Firearms Bill

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Leeroy Williams, says he supports the new Firearms Bill, to be brought to Parliament in short order, which will make it clear that the harshest consequences will flow for possession of illegal guns.

“Our security forces, in spite of the intelligence gathering and hard work they have been put in, still have a tremendous battle on their hands to get the desired results. It can only mean that tougher measures will have to be put in place to curb the insatiable appetite these criminals have for murder,” Mayor Williams indicated.

“It is time for the legislation that seeks to create severe penalties for traders of illegal firearms and ammunition, as well as persons with illegal possession of firearms to be promulgated and implemented. [I am], therefore, calling on the Government to expedite this process, so that murder by guns can be curtailed,” he added.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation on Thursday (January 13), Mayor Williams said the time has come for criminals who have been wreaking havoc across the island to be sent a strong message.

The Mayor noted that harsher penalties “might very well be the paradigm shift in crime-fighting,” in order for the country to realise the Vision 2030 goal of Jamaica becoming the place of choice to live, work, raise families and to do business. He added that the Corporation continues to mourn the shooting of one of its Municipal Officers, and counselling is being provided to those who worked closely with the officer.

The Mayor also condemned the number of murders in St. James since the start of the year.

According to statistics from the police, there have been 13 murders and five shootings in the parish since January 2022.

Municipal Police Officer, Jermaine Evans, 34 years old, and his uncle, 46-year-old Peter Stewart were shot dead on New Year’s Eve.

Mr. Evans had been a Municipal Police Officer at the Corporation since 2018.

“A pall of gloom overshadows the Municipal Corporation as we mourn the death of the self-assuming, hard-working and law-abiding Municipal Police Officer. Our Municipal Officers were so traumatised and they were in such a sombre mood that we had to call in personnel to give them counselling,” the Mayor said.