By Deandrea Hamilton & Shanieka Smith

Editorial Staff  

Jamaicans concerned about possible, negative repercussions following the TCI Governor’s statement that Jamaican gangs are behind the deadly upsurge in crime have been asked to stay calm and continue to live responsibly in the Turks and Caicos Islands by the Foreign Affairs Minister of Jamaica, Kamina Johnson.

Johnson had misgivings of her own about the comments made on Monday October 3 during a speech in the House of Assembly; stating that given government leaders had initially characterised the gangs as having an international composition before Nigel Dakin singled out Jamaicans in those remarks.

“A step change occurred in the environment the Territory faced in September. It was, and it is, as dramatic to this Island community as similar dramatic shifts in the security situation that much larger Sates have to absorb. Those have been linked to major attacks associated with terrorism. For TCI it is related to Jamaican gangs and serious trans-national crime – rather than international terrorism. It remains ongoing and it will not stop, unless we stop it.”

Minister Johnson, in an official statement issued on Friday said that: “…it was truly regrettable that against information indicating that various nationalities have been and are involved… Jamaicans were singled out for blamed.”

Dakin explained, as he addressed members of the House following five weeks of unprecedented violence which led to 15 brutal murders: “Several months ago two local gangs (and yes there is a very significant local element to this) lost their leadership. One extremely violent local gang leader was shot dead by Police, while resisting arrest. The other, a Haitian Gang Leader, who the Police had made four separate attempts to arrest in the shanty areas of ‘Romy Yard’ – was killed – by one of his own gang – before he could be arrested.

The vacuum and confusion this created, allowed a predominantly Jamaican gang – with a relatively small footprint here – to reinforce from Jamaica. They had anyway been seeking to kill one of their local rivals – the man I have just described – following his attempt to steal from them.  Members of this House will remember the three days of shooting in Five Cays during April as this initial feud played out.”

Minister Johnson said the TCI Government is aware of Jamaica’s concern about the statement, which she also said was “distinctly unhelpful…” adding that Jamaica also recognized the value of its many law abiding citizens who contribute positively to the Turks and Caicos society.

Media in Jamaica also levelled questions at its own National Security minister, Horace Chang, he channeled his thoughts to the issue of illegal firearms making their way to the Caribbean from gun producing countries

“None of our countries manufacture firearms and yet the ill effects of their proliferation contributes to gang violence, Yeah and transnational criminal activities permeate our respective territories and are responsible for more than 70% of homicides in the Caribbean.”

Chang, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica maintains that this was only one more reason it was important to interrupt the gun trade passing through our region.

Jamaica’s top cop Major General Anthony Anderson has revealed that the two countries are partnering at both intelligence and governmental levels and Governor Nigel Dakin confirmed that Jamaica has made ‘kind offers’ of support.

The Jamaican foreign minister confirmed the same, when she offered in the statement that dialogue on the multi-national nature of the gang fueled violence has been expressly discussed between Washington Misick, TCI Premier and Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s Prime Minister.

Kamina Johnson shared the wave of gang and gun violence is a problem for Jamaica and she hoped there would be CARICOM solidarity and a speedy resolution to the situation which is now plaguing the Caribbean region.