Senior Superintendent of Police Eron Samuels, the commanding officer for the St James Police Division, says domestic disputes remain a major contributing factor to murders in the parish, referencing the 26 murders recorded this year, which is three more than for the comparative period last year.

Speaking during last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), Samuels said that at least 11 of the 26 recorded murders in St James have been linked to domestic disputes, some of which stem from quarrels over land and other properties.

“We are currently at 11 interpersonal incidents, plus we have eight gang-related murders and seven criminal incidents of murder, and some of those that are classified under gangs are really stemming from interpersonal incidents, and they use gangsters to commit these offences,” he said.