We cannot imagine how Sandy Supersad's family and friends and even customers must be feeling today, after the former manager of the clothing and accessories store was murdered on Wednesday night.

This is not only because of the fact that she was killed in such a brutal manner, but also that it could have been prevented. It seems to have been a hit, as none of Supersad's possessions were taken, so if this attempt was thwarted maybe there would have been another time and place where the murderers would have completed their 'job'.

But on Wednesday night, as Sandy Supersad drove into the Waterloo Lawn apartment complex, she could have survived to see another day.

It is amazing and perplexing that the story says:

"THE STAR was told that the gunmen were seen by several persons loitering near the apartments about 10 minutes before the murder was committed. One of the gunmen was dressed in a white shirt and dark pants while the other was wearing full black, witnesses said. One of them was carrying a gun tucked into the back of his waist. The actions of the gunmen aroused suspicions but no one called the police or raised an alarm of any kind."

And this is uptown. The police would have responded. Somebody must have been hooked up to a security response system and they would have happily turned up. But no one lifted a finger to make a call to save Supersad's - or anyone's - life.

It could not have happened in the areas dismissed as the ghetto. First of all, no stranger could be lurking and not be challenged. They would not even dare attempt it in the first place.

This horrible murder underscores the difference between 'uptown' and 'downtown' Jamaica. And in this case downtown is by far better.