By Rasbert Turner, Star Writer
Several residents of Royal Place, near Ebony Vale in St. Catherine, were lauded as good citizens for the formation of their neighbourhood watch. The praise came from State Minister for National Security, Donald Rhodd.
He told the residents on Sunday, that the formation of their watch was added to 600 other watches throughout the island, and that it is a critical aspect of the crime fighting machinery in Jamaica.
He told the gathering that it was the neighbourhood watch and other such groups that help the police to fight crime in the country. He implored the residents not to fall victim to the whim and fancy of the criminal network. "I know that the criminals are quite organised but they are few, so if you, as law abiding citizens, show the will power, then we must succeed."
He told them that they should continue to liaise with the police, the Social Development Commission and other groups to bring about the changes that are necessary.
The police also had praises for the community. According to Inspector Norman McDonald of the Spanish Town Police Station, the police welcomes the neighbourhood watch, he promised to give them the full support.
According to him, the police need all the help they can get. "As we speak in St. Catherine, with four hundred and odd thousand people, to police, it would take one policeman to every 1,367 persons, so then you understand our dilemma."
He promised to continue meeting with the residents to iron out the way forward. According to him, crime is crippling Spanish Town's potential.
In turn, the neighbourhood watch committee lauded several persons, and vouched that they will continue to work well for Royal Place in particular and Jamaica on a whole.
Entertainer George Nooks serenaded those in attendance with songs, such as God Is Standing By, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, and How Great Thou Art.
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to 
