Lawless
June 18, 2008
On May 16 and again on June 1, a Gleaner news team visited the commercial district of Montego Bay, St James, and noted the level of lawlessness along Market, Church and St James streets in particular.
In Sam Sharpe Square, there were a number of persons vending illegally, while scores of motorists were involved in acts of indiscipline. All this was happening under the watchful eyes of uniformed policemen.
When questioned about their purpose in the square, one of the policemen explained, "We are doing the same thing we do every day, looking out for offenders."
Illegal sales
Along the commercial thoroughfare of St James Street, the sale of illegal DVDs, clothing, phone accessories and other items was prevalent.
Traffic offences included parking in no-parking zones as well as taxi operators picking up passengers in undesignated areas. In addition, several motorists showed disregard for individuals using pedestrian crossings.
"There's no structured (taxi) system in St James," Superintendent Steve McGregor, commanding officer for St James, told The Gleaner.
"One commuter suggested that the necessary agencies need to get this transportation system in St James worked out before the police can really go in. We don't want to go and take up something that is so haphazard and try to police it."
In relation to illegal vending, McGregor said: "That's a real problem in St James because we have a lot of it."
Constantly working
In dealing with this problem, he said the Island Special Constabulary Force was constantly working on curbing the problem.
In the meantime, Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Charles Sinclair, said the police and the Transport Authority have not aggressively dealt with traffic violations in the Second City.
"The police have fallen down, and the Transport Authority, because I have not seen them out on the streets," Sinclair told The Gleaner. "My municipal police have been out there in the street. In April, we moved 240 vehicles from no-parking areas and off the sidewalks."
Mayor Sinclair said he met with the Transport Authority as well as the police in regard to the city's traffic problem in January, and suggested that all agencies use the zero-tolerance approach.
He, however, stated that the parish council has limitations, as it is without some powers that the police and transport authority possess.
"I've written to the superintendent of St James about it and, if I don't see any improvement in the activities of the traffic police and the Island Special Constabulary Force on the road in that regard, I'm going to have to go to the commissioner," he warned.
McGregor said most of the problems in Montego Bay were caused by the fact that citizens have scant regard for the law.
"I'm enforcing the Night Noise Abatement Act and everybody thinks I want to give him or her a fight because people feel they must do what they want to do, and it can't work," he said....
Author: Denise Reid
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
