Attorney General John Jeremie says he believes the declaration of the Maloney Buildings Housing Development as a “closed area” under the Special Operations Act is already yielding positive results, adding that he’s confident criminal charges will arise from the police intervention in the community.
Speaking on TTT’s FOCUS Show, Attorney General John Jeremie said there has been no retaliatory violence in the Maloney community, since the Maloney Buildings Housing Development was declared a “closed area” under the Special Operations Act on Tuesday night.
He said the police operation has not only restored calm, but advanced investigations.
“They were able to locate within a day and a half, the weapon which was actually used to perpetrate the random shooting that had residents scampering, children scampering for their lives. That sort of activity. Yes, they’ve managed to quiet the situation in that community, they’ve also made progress in terms of investigating the causes of the violence and I’m confident criminal charges will flow from their intervention.”
The Special Operations Act was triggered following Monday’s daylight shooting incident in the community.
The Attorney General said a high rate of under and unemployment in the community, coupled with other factors, have led to issues within the area.
“We anticipate that there are at least two entrenched gangs in that small locale, and when things go awry, the gangs go at each other. Now in the very recent past, this year, there have been homicides inside that small enclosed area and it was that fear, a fear of increased violence, retaliatory violence I imagine led the Police Commissioner to take the action he did.”
The AG stressed that Government has a responsibility to protect residents and restore safety to communities affected by criminal activity, including Maloney.
“The Government is concerned about your welfare. It is determined to ensure we return safety to the streets of that community. We will not allow the actions of a few to jeopardise the safety and health of the many. Those are the things I would say to the citizens of that community.”
The AG also sought to reassure the public that the legislation is not aimed at any specific community, as there are clear triggers for the use of the powers which are granted by the Act.