Gospel Explosion excites Payne Land - Residents praise police community relations in tough community

Residents in Tavares Gardens, popularly known as Payne Land, were full of praise for the hierarchy of the St Andrew South Police Division, following a vibrant Gospel Explosion event held in the community.

The event forms part of the police's drive to improve relations between the police and citizens, amid a marked decline in the number of murders and shootings recorded in the crime-torn division since January 2022.

"Them affi come again, enuh, this cannot be a one-timer because everybody a talk bout it," exclaimed John*, who has resided in the community since age 13.

"Is 49 years since I am living here. My mother came when I was 13-plus and is first I am seeing something like this in my community. I am very happy and grateful and wouldn't mind to see it again, trust me. A lot of people enjoyed it and I hope it can be the start of lasting peace in Payne Land," he continued.

The event was organised under the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) ongoing community engagement programme dubbed Widely Publicised Meeting.

Residents were entertained by members of the JCF's band during the two-hour function, and community members, longing for a good time and some semblance of peace, joined in the festivities by participating in various dance and music renditions.

"The people them say di concert never normal and it fi happen more often because it will definitely bring the community together. A nuff violence wi live through here and sometimes wi feel like we don't have nobody to talk to, and wi feel di police them only waan kill. So fi see them in this light here was a good thing," a senior citizen expressed.

The division, often one of the country's deadliest, has seen a reduction in criminal activities in recent months. Police data recorded between January 1 to March 11 reveal that 12 persons have been murdered, when compared with 23 during the corresponding period in 2022.

The 48 per cent decline follows a landmark year for the division, after it ended 2022 with 130 murders, 34 less than 2021, and the lowest in six years.

Deputy Superintendent Coleridge Minto, who is in charge of operations in the division, said he was pleased with the feedback from residents.

"It is one of the initiatives that we would have undertaken in taking the police into the community as part of our community intervention programme," Minto said. "We are happy for the feedback and we will for sure see how we can make it consistent."

*name changed