From His Excellency the Acting Governor, Mr. Franz Manderson – Governor’s Office

“I have been following the unfolding security situation closely and remain in frequent contact with the Commissioner of Police and his team as they continue to manage the situation. The increase in violent gun crime in recent days is a top priority for Government and the police. We are blessed with a dedicated and very professional police service and I have every confidence that they will bring those responsible to justice swiftly. You will notice increased law enforcement activity in certain areas of the island and I would urge everyone to cooperate fully with your police service.

The presence of firearms and drugs in any society is a real concern and one that we work tirelessly to tackle. The recent successful interdictions of ganga, cocaine, firearms and illegal immigrants by RCIPS teams including the Joint Marine and Air Operations Units, which have been reported in the media, are testament to this focus. Projects to further strengthen border security are underway and we are working closely with colleagues from the UK and the region to ensure we employ the most appropriate resources and methods.

However our main partner in tackling crime in all its forms remains the community. You have no doubt seen the appeal for information made by the police yesterday which would help them address the current public safety threat as well as the appeal for witnesses to recent incidents. I encourage everyone to work with us because confronting crime can only be addressed effectively together. “