Chinese call for greater protection from ‘terrorists’
Published:Tuesday | May 28, 2019 | 12:22 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
A Chinese Embassy official has called for the Jamaican Government to use every tool possible to protect Chinese nationals here.
“I am requesting that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) do everything it can to address and to legitimately safeguard the rights of the Chinese in Jamaica, and we urge the JCF to also thoroughly investigate this crime so as to bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible,” said Counsellor Xhoa Ming.
He extended sympathy to the two cops injured in Sunday’s dramatic robbery and firefight in May Pen, Clarendon, and wished them a speedy recovery .
The police sergeant and a constable were shot as they attempted to foil the daring robbery at a supermarket along Main Street in the town.
SECURITY FOOTAGE
A screen grab from a security camera shows men in masks brandishing high-powered weapons at the entrance to the supermarket.
One man, a Chinese national, was taken hostage for a short while before being released by the gunmen, described by Xhoa as “terrorists”.
He said that the embassy has reminded Chinese business operators to adopt stringent security measures.
“We intend to have further discussions with the people of Chinese communities on issues of safety because we believe in a safe Jamaica for everyone. At the same time, the Chinese Embassy will be doing all it can to aid the security of its people while in Jamaica. We are very concerned about what has happened,” stated Xhoa.
There are approximately 70,000 direct Chinese nationals and people of Chinese descent living in Jamaica, the embassy said.