ZOSO boss happy with ‘murder-free’ Norwood

WESTERN BUREAU:

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ainsley McCarty, who heads the St James’ zone of special operations (ZOSO), has heaped praise on the residents of Norwood for making their community one of the safest in the parish so far this year.

According to McCarthy, the residents of Norwood, one of two St James communities currently under a ZOSO, has played a pivotal role in keeping the once volatile community murder-free since so far this year, and this is despite the fact that St James has recorded more than 100 murders since the start of the year.

“My gift tonight is to thank you the citizens of Norwood [because] since the start of this year, it is safe to say Norwood is one of the safest communities in western Jamaica,” said McCarty, who was speaking at the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in the community this past weekend.

According to McCarthy, the residents of Norwood, which was once the murder capital of St James, continue to set a remarkable example of how united efforts can lead to a secure and harmonious environment.

“We have not had one murder in the zone of special operations since the start of this year, and this was not by chance. It was as a result of your efforts that allowed us to have no murder in the zone so far,” McCarty told the residents, whose community is about one square kilometre in size and has a population of 11,000 residents.

McCarthy also stated that the police are pleased with the level of work being done by the JSIF, which forged a partnership with the citizens three years ago.

“What we are seeing is commendable. We have seen some work in the space that is assisting us to police you better, and we need to thank JSIF for the work they are doing in the space,” said McCarty.

VISIBLE SIGNS

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Lysat, commanding officer for the Second Battalion, The Jamaica Regiment (2JR) of the Jamaica Defence Force, who also spoke at the event, said that there are visible signs of transformation within Norwood as he, too, showered the citizens with praise for the transformation.

“We are your friends ... we work in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and I am delighted to say at this point that Norwood is one of those zones of special operations that is doing very well,” Lysat said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang, the member of parliament for St James North Western, where Norwood is located, thanked the residents for the effort in helping to return the community to the “golden days” when people would come together to socialise and have fun.

“Despite the history of some eruptions in Norwood, this has always been a centre of peace and quiet. Norwood was a nice area, where everybody was happy working together, and we went through a rough period,” said Chang, who reflected on the times when the community hosted football matches that were played up to midnight.

“This is the football field [where the military camp is located]. We used to play football here until midnight. It is a good symbolic event to have the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony here, which reflects peace, joy, and happiness and a coming together,” added Chang.

Acting on the advice of the security forces, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, on June 20, 2021, declared a ZOSO in sections of Norwood, which was being overrun by gun-toting gangsters, in an effort to restore law and order.

According to the latest serious crime statistics released by the JCF on December 14, the country’s murder count had reached 1,114, which is 238 fewer than the comparative period last year. St James, with 123 murders since the start of the year, leads all other police divisions in murders.

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