The parliamentary representative for St John’s Rural North is concerned about the recent gun crimes that have been committed in his constituency.
Two murders have taken place in Cedar Grove over a five-week period, during which a 20-year-old pregnant young woman was shot in the abdomen and leg in late August and yesterday a 26-year-old Jamaican man was taken from his home and killed by masked gunmen.
Cedar Grove is not an area known for such crimes, residents have commented.
MP for the area Charles “Max” Fernandez told Antigua News Room (ANR) that he is saddened by the recent incidents which claimed the lives of young people from the community.
“It is of concern for me of course. I haven’t had a report from the police as to what exactly was the cause of it, but irrespective of the cause it is something that is very concerning to me, irrespective of where the incident happened in Antigua but more so they happened in an area that I am familiar with, in my constituency . . . but I am very concerned,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said the matter was discussed at length at Cabinet yesterday, and added that law enforcement officials will implement a number of crime fighting initiatives to reduce crime in the area.
He said, however, that he was unable to give specifics of what will be done because they are national security issues.
“We have definitely discussed it in Cabinet yesterday (and) there are a number of initiatives which the police are going to add to the whole situation to ensure that there is more vigilance, especially in the area where we consider now is an area of concern. There are a number of other initiatives we have on the drawing board that we are presently in the process of completing,” the MP noted.
He said discussions have been held previously on introducing a neighbourhood watch in the community, but Hurricanes Irma and Maria somewhat stalled its implementation.
Efforts, according to him, will now be made to set up the body.
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