Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

The rural community of Yallahs in St Thomas has placed itself on the police radar for the criminal activities which have been taking place there. Since the start of the year, there have been five murders in the area, which is an increase of three murders over the same period in 2007.

Incidents such as the one on January 7 when gunmen opened fire on a group of men on Market Street, killing three men, have left residents calling for help.

Residents are scared and have pointed to the presence of illegal guns, the absence of job opportunities and what they see as the ineffectiveness of the police as contributing factors.

One resident who asked not to be named said many youths in the area have guns and were now using them.

"A lot of guns were given to the youths mainly around election time and the guys them just a utilise them now. It is a gang thing and you have persons who believe that other persons should not be around."

Counselling students

Jean Carr, principal of the Yallahs Primary School, told The Gleaner the school has had to render counselling to students who have been affected by the violence.

"It must be a concern. There are concerns coming from parents, teachers and students who are not used to the violence, the frequency of the violence and the nature of it."

An employee of a lending agency in the community, who chose to be anonymous, said the violence is unbearable and persons are scared to talk.

"People are so tight-lipped and it is a case now of 'I see and I see not'," she said.

She also believes the police are not doing enough and are part of the problem.

"The police are such that they do not deserve the clothes they are in, you have no confidence about the police. Crime never solve in the Yallahs area."

But head of the police in the parish, Deputy Superintendent of Police Marlon Nesbeth, has rejected those concerns and said the allegations which were made in the past have been dealt with.

DSP Nesbeth told The Gleaner the murders are a result of a feud in the area. He has called on the community to help the police to assist in locating Cleon Brown, aka 'Ramsie', Mark McKinley, aka 'Shotty Mark', and Martin Manley, aka 'Butter', who they want to question.

He also called on the relevant authorities to provide intervention for the jobless.

"The Yallahs area has a social problem which needs to be addressed and employment needs to be addressed."

Police numbers to call:

DSP Marlon Nesbeth - 982-2602, 420-8535

Detective Inspector Carlos Bell - 982-2446

Kingfish - 811, Crime Stop - 311