Police, Clergy Walk Through Spring Park, St Elizabeth

The police, several government agencies, and the church are on a reform mission in the Spring Park community of St. Elizabeth. The community has been gripped by a flare-up of violence stemming from intra-gang conflict.

The Head of the St. Elizabeth police, Superintendent Dwight Daley says building trust in the community is paramount to bringing criminals to justice and they are bent on building the trust. However, they are not alone, as several government agencies including the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) and the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) have come on board to provide the necessary support.

On May 13, there was a double murder at a bar in the community where three other persons were shot – the result of intra-gang conflict according to Superintendent Daley. A week later, a man was also shot dead in the community; this too was linked to gang feuds.

There is concern that residents may turn to drugs to cope with their violent reality. As of June 6, St. Elizabeth has seen a 46 per cent increase in murders with 19 murders recorded compared to 13 during the same period in 2021.

The Superintendent assures residents that perpetrators will be brought to justice. More details in the report below: