The Tribune

MINISTER of Environment Kenred Dorsett, member of Parliament for Southern Shores, hosted a crime forum on Thursday in his constituency to address the concerns of area residents.

The forum took place at the Southern Shores Leadership Institute, Carmichael Road west.

Earlier on Thursday there was a shooting on Montgomery Avenue off Carmichael Road and recently there was a shooting in the Miller’s Heights community that left one man in hospital.

Both are Southern Shores neighbourhoods.

“Without safety in our communities, there can be no serenity in our communities,” Mr Dorsett told the crowd of residents.

He invited Assistant Superintendent Kenred Neely, second-in-charge of the Carmichael Road Police Station, and Assistant Superintendent Virgiles Cenatus, coordinator of Pinewood Urban Renewal, to address residents.

ASP Neely gave a number of tips to residents to avoid being victims of crime.

He added that while the Carmichael Division is the largest on the island, uniformed officers and police reserves have made a considerable dent in crime.

ASP Cenatus also stressed the importance of working together to create crime free neighbourhoods in Southern Shores.

“Urban Renewal is willing to work with each and every one of you in bringing peace to your street,” he said.

ASP Cenatus said: “We will come back here and fix this (crime) for you and I can almost guarantee that 100 per cent.”

During the question and answer period, residents collectively said that their most worrisome issue was extremely slow police response times to crime calls.

The Southern Shores Leadership Institute was formed by Mr Dorsett to promote area businesses, provide advisory services and facilitate important forums on issues that matter to Southern Shores residents.