There is a call for the police high command to make available more resources to the Portland division,   in light of growing crime and violence in the parish.

The call has come from West Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz.

He says he has been left with a feeling of numbness and in a state of shock and disbelief as his constituency has been the scene of yet another heinous murder in recent weeks.

24 year old Kimberly Baugh, who was 5 months pregnant, was gunned down following a party at a bar which her family operates in Lower Layton, Orange Bay yesterday.

Five persons were shot, including Kimberly’s mother.

Mr. Vaz says this incident follows in quick succession to the gruesome murder of a retired British couple in the farming community of Mount Pleasant, where their partially burned bodies were discovered.

Mr. Vaz in decrying the recent upsurge in crime in Portland says the peaceful nature of the parish is under threat.

e states  that the culture of crime which the government and the police  are relentlessly trying to eradicate elsewhere  across Jamaica, will not be allowed to take root in the parish,  to jeopardise the safety and wellbeing of citizens nor the investment that is anticipated to come on stream.

Mr. Vaz also notes that violence against women in the parish is becoming an ugly feature, stemming from domestic related crimes.

He is imploring Portland residents to utilize conflict resolution as a means of settling disputes rather than violence.

The West Portland MP is commending the JCF Portland division for their swift action and investigations which have led to the persons of interest being taken into custody.