MONTEGO BAY: Lloyd B. Smith, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Central St James, wants Montego Bay’s business community to become more proactive in the fight against crime, especially in light of the recent spike in murders in the St James police division.
“It is no secret that to some extent, the business community has remained aloof from this particular problem in the sense that, because tourism is the major economic activity and there have been no major incursions into that sector by the criminal elements, we have (become) somewhat laid-back,” Smith said.
The government MP was addressing a Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry stakeholders meeting.
“The time has come when everybody in the wider Montego Bay community must get involved because it is only a matter of time before this scourge of criminality spreads its wings,” Smith continued.
“The criminals themselves have developed their own modus operandi and are gradually seeking to take over the commanding heights of the society. Against this background, we have to look at this thing as us against them.”
St James has been a hotbed of criminal activity with the Police High Command saying it is chiefly responsible for the spike in murders this year.
