Statement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness

I express my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the three victims (two women and a child) of yesterday’s heinous attack on residents of Kidd Lane in South West St. Andrew.

This attack is an assault on the sensibilities of the entire nation, spreading fear through criminal terror. The police and other agencies of the government will be fully mobilised to provide emotional and material support to the families and communities.

No innocent citizen should have to flee their community because of gangs and organised violence. It is the gunmen who must flee!

While we have come a long way in cutting our murder rate in half and cutting the number of active gangs by more than half, there are still organised criminals and violent individuals with guns and the intent to take lives.

We must not stop or relax our fight against crime, criminals and illegal weapons until they are separated from our society. While we understand that the community is in fear at the moment, this is an opportunity for residents to take back their communities and secure real peace by sharing information on the incident through established protected channels.

I have asked the Minister of National Security to treat this matter with intense attention, and I have no doubt that the perpetrators will be caught and justice will be served!