By Fabian Ledgister, Staff Reporter

More than six persons are being killed per day since the start of this year.

Police statistics since the start of 2007 have revealed that there have been 26 murders in just four days.

The reported murders yesterday came from the troubled parish of St. James. The first, occurred about 5:30 a.m. along Blood Lane in Glendevon, St. James.

Reports are that Ray Anthony Henry, 35, of Norwood, St. James, was washing his vehicle on the roadway when a group of armed men attacked and shot him several times. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Not even 15 minutes later, the parish was hit with the first double murder for the year when armed gunmen travelling in a white Toyota Corolla motor car killed Kenrick Depass, 23, of Granville, and Tereshova Taylor, a 33-year-old security guard from Flankers.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields says that although the year has begun on a negative trend, he hesitates to forecast what will happen for the remainder of the year on just four days evidence.

"Firstly, the public should remain calm. Yes, the year has had a dreadful start, but if you compare the numbers to the first few days of 2006 and 2005, it is not dissimilar ... I will not be making any drastic changes, based on four bad days," said DCP Shields.

He added, "The police will continue to review our policies and focus on the long term. We will be moving to improve community relations, push for more forensic equipment, speed up the courts and justice system, and continue the fight against crime."