Jamaican opposition shocked at murder of former Councillor

A policeman is about to enter the house of former People's National Party Councillor Marjorie “Madge” Morris in Yallahs, St Thomas where she was shot dead yesterday morning.
A policeman is about to enter the house of former People’s National Party Councillor Marjorie “Madge” Morris in Yallahs, St Thomas where she was shot dead yesterday morning.

(Jamaica Observer) The People’s National Party (PNP) yesterday expressed shock and sadness at the killing of former Councillor Marjorie “Madge” Morris in St Thomas.

Morris, who represented the White Horses Division in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, was shot dead at her home on Albion Boulevard in Yallahs yesterday morning.

Police said that they were called by residents who reported hearing explosions coming from Morris’ home about 6:30 am. When the cops arrived, they found the 67-year-old woman lying on her kitchen floor with multiple gunshot wounds.

She was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Yesterday, the PNP said the news of Morris’ killing was “particularly shocking” as the party was still mourning the murder of Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, the Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern, just over a week ago.

Bloomfield, was found with multiple stab wounds at his house in Passley Gardens, Portland.

“The news of Madge’s murder has compounded the dampened spirit and sorrow among the entire membership of the organisation who are preoccupied with the burial arrangement of Dr Bloomfield,” the PNP release quoted General Secretary Julian Robinson.

He said that although Morris was not presently serving in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, she maintained her activism by serving the people of her community and parish through voluntary efforts.

“The killing of the former councillor and PNP activist continues a catalogue of wanton acts of criminality across the country that leave too many individuals and families in mourning and rob the community and the nation of its best talents,” Robinson said.

He said the security of every Jamaican, regardless of status, must be assured by the Government. “It is particularly troubling that while we are experiencing vicious attacks on our elected or former elected officials, and heightened level of threats, the Government has proposed to withdraw or minimise the security details of former ministers of government,” Robinson said.

The PNP, he said, extends condolence to Morris’ children, extended family, friends and membership of the political organisation in St Thomas.

“The PNP continues to maintain that no Jamaican should have to face this viciousness in their own country. We therefore urge the security forces to do what is necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said and made an appeal for anyone with information that can assist the police with the investigation, to do so in order that the person or persons responsible for Morris’ murder can be apprehended and brought to swift justice.