| KINGSTON, May 20 (JIS): |
 The
Government is moving to establish a special unit that will focus on
anti-kidnapping strategies as part of its drive to tackle organised
crimes in the country.Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips made the announcement during his contribution to the 2004/05 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Wednesday, May 19. At the same time, the Minister said that the Government had already made contact and received commitment from Scotland Yard, the detective department of the Metropolitan police force in London, to assist with the specialised training of this unit. He said that the establishment of the unit was a pro-active measure to the recent incidents of kidnapping in the country. Speaking to the incidents, Minister Phillips said, “what I can report is that police investigations, so far, have determined that these incidents do not reflect a pattern. Investigation indicates that except for one case, the incidents were drug-related”. Turning to the kidnapping of Christine English, a social worker, who was abducted at gunpoint from her Gordon Town home in Kingston last week, Dr. Phillips said, “I wish to say how relieved we all were following the safe return of Mrs. English from her horrible ordeal a week ago”. The Government, he said, would also be offering a reward totalling $5 million through the Crime Stop Programme for information leading to the arrest and charge of persons responsible for the most recent kidnapping. The Minister said that anyone with information should call Crime Stop at 1-888-991 4000. “We intend to leave no stone unturned in this matter because we are determined not to go the way of other regional territories faced with this problem of kidnapping,” he stated. |
