THE GLEANER, SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS A3 Hopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer SEVERAL DISGRUNTLED goat farmers in Crowder, Grange Hill, Westmoreland, are calling on theWestmoreland police to carry out more patrols in their community following the gruesome murder of another goat herder on Wednesday. The latest victim has been identified as 70-year-old Aron Scarlett of Crowder district in Grange Hill. He is the third goat herder to be robbed of his livestock and murdered in that community over the past three months. The concerned goat farmers said that an increase in the police presence was needed in the community as a deterrent to the hard-core criminals. “Rasta was a good and honest, hardworking citizen, and every day him just focus pon him farm an him goats, but the thief dem come een, an just kill him an tek weh him goat suh,” said a man who only gave his name as Eric. Scarlett’s common-law wife, Rosetta Summerville, told The Gleaner that her partner left home about 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday for his goat farm which is located in an area known as Shaw Pen. “After him go bush mi nuh si him come back, all inna di 10:30 mi nuh si him come back,” she said noting that it was a taxi man who told her that her partner was killed at his farm. The distraught woman said she rushed to the location and attempted to view the body but was stopped by a relative who feared she could get ill as a result of her medical condition. TheWestmoreland police have reported that the elderly goat farmer was shot and chopped to death. Praedial larceny is believed to have been the motive behind this latest attack. Scarlett’s death comes three months after two other popular goat herders, 65-year-old Henry Jones, otherwise called ‘Mass Hen’, and 44-year-old Brian Chambers, otherwise called‘Fowlie’, both of the same community were also killed in a similar fashion. Summerville told The Gleaner that she is now convinced that the goat herders are being targeted. “Mi believe seh a somebody from close by involved in a dem tings yah, and a full time the police come een, because dem a target the goat farmers dem.” Efforts to get a comment from the police were unsuccessful. Since the start of the year, a total of 24 persons have been murdered across the parish of Westmoreland. Asha Wilks/Gleaner Writer THE VALE Royal talks, according to People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding, have been quite successful in facilitating much-needed conversation between the Government and the Opposition on national issues. National security, constitutional reform, health, and the Jamaica 60 Diamond Jubilee celebrations were among the topics discussed during the three-and-a-half-hour dialogue, which was held on February 22, 2022. “I think a better understanding of our positions was achieved and that’s very important,” said Golding. He added that he would like to see the commencement of the work in areas that have been identified. Golding said he hoped the prime minister would `arrange more of these consultations so that the Opposition’s positions can be taken into account. Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Golding discussed the unacceptably high levels of crime and violence that continue to bedevil the country. Police statistics show that between January 1 and February 19, the country recorded 206 murders, 157 shootings and 130 robberies. In an interview with The Gleaner, Golding asserted that he and the prime minister have established an understanding over the PNP’s opposition to the use of states of public emergencies (SOEs). Golding described the PNP’s stance against SOEs as a “sound” position to an ineffective crimefighting tool, but acknowledged that he planned to assist the Government in finding more effective solutions and strategies to combat crime. “We are all in favour of constructive engagement around crime, we helped them with the ZOSO legislation in Parliament [and] we will do the same with the Firearms bill which is now in Parliament and we have pointed out some ideas to them that we think should be included in the Enhanced Security Measures bill which we have been waiting for a long time and it’s still not before us,” said Golding. The proposed law on Enhanced Security Measures is intended to provide the security forces with the tools they need to dismantle criminal networks, minimise violence, and restore public order. “I am looking forward to seeing those ideas expressed in the legislation that hopefully will reach Parliament shortly,” he added. Golding had also expressed a desire for Jamaica to part ways with the British monarchy in short order and to have its own Jamaican-born head of state. When Barbados removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state on November 30, 2021, it reignited and heightened discussions locally that Jamaica may follow suit. As a result, Prime Minister Holness declared last year that Jamaica would become a republic soon. Golding acknowledged that the ruling Jamaica Labour Party “seems to be committed to it as well,” but confessed that the Government was not moving as expeditiously as the PNP would like it to move. Tanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter THE ST Mary brothers accused of killing four people in separate incidents, including a Chinese couple, are to settle their legal representation. Nigel Walters, alias ‘Troy’, and Nicholas Walters were yesterday remanded until June 2 when they made their first appearance in the Home Circuit Court via a voluntary bill of indictment, which allows for their case to bypass a parish court hearing. Nigel, however, was the only defendant who appeared physically as his brother attended via Zoom. In the first case, Chinese business operators, 53-year-old Shiyun Shu and 48-year-old Haikong Wan, were shot and killed during a robbery at their supermarket in Bellevue, St Elizabeth. Three gunmen were reportedly caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) posing as customers in the supermarket before the deadly attack. The second incident involved 45-yearold businesswoman Sophia Brown and her customer, 58-year-old farmer Bernie Lewis, both of Long Hill district, Whitehouse, Westmoreland. Brown was reportedly at her wholesale on January 12 when the brothers entered posing as customers. Both women were reportedly assisting the men when they were shot and killed. Yesterday when the case was mentioned, the prosecutor informed Justice SimoneWolfe-Reece that the case files for both matters are incomplete. In the St Elizabeth case, among the documents outstanding are the ballistic certificate, forensic certificate and a compact disc with footage. The post mortem report has already been received. For the second matter, the crown is awaiting the post mortem. The court was also informed that Nigel is yet to settle his legal representation even though he has retained a lawyer. A mention date was subsequently scheduled for the files to be completed and for Nigel to retain a lawyer. Both defendants were remanded. Attorney-at-law Kerry-Ann Wilson is representing Nicholas. PNP sees positives from renewed Vale Royal talks GOLDING Suzanne Taylor ( right), presents a cheque worth $3 million to Christine Hendricks, head of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) yesterday. Unicomer Jamaica Limited provided the funds to JCPD to improve the level of technology and access to education for the disabled at eight agencies. The agencies set to benefit include: The Combined Disabilities Association, Abilities Foundation, Jamaica Society for the Blind, Early Stimulation Programme, Centre of Excellence – St Thomas, Salvation Army School for the Blind, Duncan’s All Age Special Education Unit and Edgehill School of Special Education. RUDOLPH BROWN/PHOTOGRAPHER been slow. A driver who is often at the location soliciting business to transport barrels said he was on hand when news broke of the find. He told The Gleaner, “Mi nuh know what do dem man ya enuh. Dem just a mash up the country wid di gun ting. Things like dat only slow up work. All today (yesterday) a just little work gwaan, nothing much,” he said on condition of anonymity. Yesterday’s seizure is the second gun bust since the start of the week. On Monday two persons were arrested following an operation at a warehouse on Sea Grape Way in Montego Bay, St James. Seven firearms, including two rifles and a sub-machine gun, were seized in that incident. It is reported that about 2:30 p.m., a joint team consisting of members of the Contraband Enforcement Team and the police were making checks at the facility. The guns were discovered during an inspection of electronic items. Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson during a press conference at his office on Tuesday said 163 weapons were seized since the start of the year, an overall 37 per cent increase when compared to the similar period in 2021. According to the commissioner, there has been a more than 100 per cent increase in the total number of rifles sized this year. The police are also reporting a 26 per cent increase in the number of pistols seized since January. The police say that organised criminals are purchasing these high-powered weapons so that they can terrorise communities, particularly the poorer and more vulnerable areas. “Let me make it clear that the highpowered rifles that we have seized are not cheap. They are not tools of economic development or productivity. They are high-value weapons normally associated with warfare rather than crime,” added Anderson. The police say their probe into yesterday’s seizure is ongoing. HOLNESS Accused murderers of four make appearance in court GUN CONTINUED FROM A1 Another goat farmer in Westmoreland killed Residents want urgent help from the police
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