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Riot police patrol Jamaican resort townOfficers aim to discourage protest of boy's killing
NEGRIL, Jamaica (AP) -- Police in riot gear patrolled the streets of a western resort town in Jamaica on Sunday, a day after a crowd, enraged that an officer killed a 14-year-old boy, set fire to several buildings. Police shot Omari Wedderburn on Friday in Negril, which is fringed by some of the Caribbean nation's premiere tourist resorts. On Saturday, more than 300 people gathered to protest, police said. Some shattered windows at two banks before hurling firebombs into them, while others set convenience stores ablaze, police said. Significant damage was reported at one bank and one store, and about 20 other stores sustained minor damage, police said. Firefighters were temporarily kept away by the angry crowd. No one was arrested. On Sunday, about 50 police officers in riot gear patrolled the streets to prevent flare-ups of violence. Police said the presence would last until at least Monday. Hotels were not affected in the protest, officials said. "The protest has zero effect on the tourism sector," said Burchell Henry, spokesman for Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa. "Shops and other businesses were damaged, but the demonstrators did not bring their protest action where the hotels are located." He added that most guests did not know about the violence. Negril's Chamber of Commerce said it did not expect further violence. "Things are basically getting back to normal, and I would be surprised to see if anything happens [Monday] because the police have things under control," chamber president Kenrick Davis said. Questions surround killingThe circumstances of the 14-year-old's killing were in dispute. Police said the boy was shot by one of three officers who responded when a fruit vendor reported three youths hurling stones at his shop. When police tried to arrest the three, angry residents began pelting the officers with rocks. A member of the crowd tried to disarm one of the policemen, and, during a struggle, a bullet was fired and hit the boy in the head, police spokesman Damion Ricketts said. Resident Daphne Blagrove, 35, said she saw the killing and that no one was throwing stones. She said the officer deliberately shot the boy. The three officers were transferred to another station pending an investigation, Ricketts said. Such violence is rare in Negril, one of Jamaica's most popular tourist destinations. Human rights groups have criticized frequent killings by Jamaican police. Last year, 133 people were fatally shot by police, according to Amnesty International. Forty-four people have been fatally shot by police this year, authorities said. Few officers have been charged in the killings. Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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