Manchester, Jamaica — The increasing wave of gun violence in Manchester has sparked significant concern among both residents and local authorities. This surge has led Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester Central, Rhoda Moy Crawford, to address the issue publicly, urging her constituents to stand firm against the rising tide of lawlessness.
In a statement released on Thursday, MP Crawford expressed her solidarity with the residents and stakeholders of Manchester Central who are distressed by the recent string of murders.
“As the Member of Parliament for Central Manchester, I stand in solidarity with my well-thinking and law-abiding constituents and wider stakeholders who are concerned and alarmed at the recent flare-up of violence in the parish. There have been several disturbing incidents of shootings in the parish, which has reportedly resulted in five deaths in the last few days,” Crawford said.
She elaborated on the understandable fear and anxiety experienced by the community but emphasized the importance of not letting criminals dictate the atmosphere of the parish.
“While the fear and anxiety that now grip residents and stakeholders of the constituency is understandable, as law-abiding citizens, we must never allow criminals and those who seek to wreak havoc in our beloved parish, to paralyse us or weaken our resolve to stand against lawlessness,” she added.
According to reports, Manchester has seen at least five people murdered and five others injured in recent days. The most recent incident occurred on Thursday morning when a man was shot and injured during an alleged shootout between gangsters on Bethel Street in Greenvale, Mandeville.
In her statement, Crawford reassured the public that law enforcement is working tirelessly to apprehend those responsible for these violent acts.
“As Member of Parliament for one of the four constituencies in the parish, I want to assure constituents and the wider public that the security forces, bolstered by support from the Government, are doing everything in their powers to identify the perpetrators, reassure and safeguard the citizenry as well as restore a sense of safety and normality to the communities as quickly as possible,” she affirmed.
Crawford encouraged anyone with information regarding the recent shootings to come forward and cooperate with the police, emphasizing the necessity of community involvement in restoring peace.
“We cannot allow this to become our new normal,” she stressed, underscoring the need for collective action against crime.
The recent violence underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Manchester, as the community works to reclaim a sense of security and normalcy amidst rising criminal activity.
