Frightened Mt Salem residents say ZOSO has failed them

Western Bureau:

Frightened by last week’s brazen double murder, which was quickly followed by the killing of a popular meat shop operator, and other shooting incidents, some residents of Mt Salem, St James, are worried that the zone of special operations (ZOSO), which has been in place since 2017, is no longer protecting them from bloodthirsty gangsters.

“The troublemakers who ran away when the ZOSO was declared are now back in the community, and they are the ones driving the violence,” a resident, who asked not to be identified, told The Gleaner, during Saturday’s tour of the community by National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang, Area One commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Chambers, and St James commander, Senior Superintendent Vernon Ellis.

“I believe a big mistake was made in 2017 when the ZOSO was declared, they should have locked down the entire community and searched every single house. Had they done that, the troublemakers would not have been able to hide what they hide (guns) and run away, but they did, and now they are back here killing people again.” However, unlike the residents, Chang, who once lived in the community, believes that, for the most part, the ZOSO has been successful despite his concern about the recent murders, which are primarily acts of reprisal by the remnants of gangs that had been displaced as a part of the crime-fighting initiative.

“The ZOSO is not failing but this situation is of deep concern,” said Chang, in response to the fear now gripping the community. “Every murder is a tragedy, and we are going to ask the police to do whatever is necessary to find the perpetrators.

“The zone of special operations is designed to restore a level of calm, which it did. We have had less than 10 murders over the six going into seven years. This is the first one in about eight months,” continued Chang. “What it reflects is, the original concept is still there that will bring peace. When we clear, we hold, and we build.”

Remnants of old criminal elements

He added: “In the build phase, there are still remnants of the old criminal elements. We have indicated that the policy of the Government is to separate the violence producers and the gangsters, disrupt the gangs from the community, and that has happened in Mt Salem.

“But we are seeing young men who were a part of those gangs are still in the space, and there is this continued propensity for violence.”

Like Chang, Chambers believes that the ZOSO is working and that it is the fruit of the ZOSO that is allowing the police to get pertinent information on the gangsters, who the police are working to separate from the community.

“From a policing standpoint, it is clear that the zone of operations is working. When you look at the statistical figures in terms of murder, shootings, and major crimes, it is clear that it is working. The issue that might create a problem, as the minister (Chang) mentioned, is the shootings, the murders, the double murder that might tend to influence one’s fear, and that is something we have to deal with,” said Chambers.

“As law enforcement, we would want the community to cooperate, there are levels of cooperation…the information we are getting is giving us good results … the community is cooperating, and we are getting good support, ” said Chambers, in noting that they have been getting strong leads, which are putting the gangsters in their cross hairs.