Soldiers to stay in MoBay permanently

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is to establish a permanent post in western Jamaica.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who is also the minister of defence, announced via his Twitter handle yesterday that the JDF is planning to establish a permanent presence in St James.

Holness tweeted following a tour of several crime-torn communities in St James yesterday with JDF chief Major General Antony Anderson, police commissioner Dr Carl Williams and other officials.

The prime minister spent the afternoon visiting communities and meeting with stakeholders in the parish, as the state tries to determine a response to the upsurge in murders in the parish.

attacking residents

The tour was preceded by a three and a half hour meeting with stakeholders.

But even as Holness and his high-profile team of officials were touring the second city gunmen were busy attacking residents in the Farm Heights area near Porto Bello, leaving the community under siege.

Two people were shot in the community. They are now being treated at hospital, police have reported.

The police say about 4:30 p.m., men carrying high-powered weapons unleashed bullets on a shop where the victims were standing.

"One of my church members was shot in the foot. She is now getting an X-ray," a pastor told The Star from the hospital yesterday.