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Residents of Greenwich Town in St Andrew, have told THE STAR that the zone of special operations (ZOSO) in the community has brought some level of relief. Members of the military are being praised for their work, as violence in the area has been quelled.

"Me love when the soldier them is here and make sure everything militant," said Courtney Murray, who has lived in the area for five decades. "If them was not here the place terrible, man; things cool and everything nice right now."

The area was declared a ZOSO in early July, in an attempt to reduce crime and violence and promote citizen development.

Another resident, Diana Whittingham, said that the services being offered by the security forces were truly needed.

National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang said recently that there have been no reports of murders or gun crimes in the area, and the security forces continue to report success. On the ground in Greenwich Town, the story is the same.

'I feel more secure'

"The soldiers in the place is a good look because when they are here, I feel more secure. Them keep the peace, man. Me can relax; even walking on the streets at night and knowing that they are here makes me content," said Whittingham. "I love it because if a man know that the police and solider in the area, them have to behave themselves."

The ZOSO extends from the intersection of Marcus Garvey Drive, making way on to Third Avenue, then on to Spanish Town Road.

Rodney Anderson, 32, who has had terrible past experiences with members of the Jamaica Defence Force, revealed that he applauds the professionalism of the ones in Greenwich Town.

"I respect these members of the ZOSO because they are different from the ones we have had before. These ones have discipline and I appreciate the way how they deal us," he said. "Them don't come around and bully us, and we appreciate their presence because if it wasn't for them, gunshots would be barking."

Before the ZOSO was implemented, the community had recorded seven murders and eight shootings since the start of 2020.

Joseph Haughton expressed gratitude for the change in his surroundings.

"It good when the military them is around, it cut down certain crime out of the community. Me glad to see them. On a regular time without the ZOSO presence, we couldn't feel so comfortable to sit outside our gate, and see me can do it now," Haughton said.