We must dismantle the ecosystem - PM Holness

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared that as his administration continues focusing on handling criminals, it will also be seeking to "dismantle the ecosystem" that supports them. 

He made the comments while visiting the Chetwood Primary School in Montego Bay, St James, following Monday night's fatal shooting of seven-year-old Justin Perry and nine-year-old Nahcoliva Smith, both students of the institution.

"There is an eco-system of crime which has to be tackled. Unfortunately, in some ways we are all part of the eco-system of crime, and the truth is that someone must have known what (was) about to unfold, and as I stand here and speak to you, someone knows where the criminal terrorist is, and you are equally guilty for having this knowledge and not sharing it with the authorities," Holness said.

"We're going to be targeting the criminal, definitely, but there is a common law principle in our jurisprudence called misprision of a felony, someone who knows a crime was committed."

The two children, along with 26-year-old Tevin Hayle, were shot and killed by gunmen while travelling in a taxi along the Flower Hill main road in Salt Spring in the parish.

- Christopher Thomas 

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