Well-known Montego Bay attorney, Nathan Robb, believes that it is inaccurate to suggest that focusing on the lottery scam by itself is the failing and downfall in Montego Bay.

He observed that due to the focus by the police on the lottery scam, they have failed to arrest other crimes and problems that exist in St James, allowing the limited resources to be directed primarily in the war against the lottery scam, yet there are no convictions to date.

But Assistant Commissioner for Area One Devon Watkis said he did not agree with Robb's position. He said while it may appear that the police are focusing most of their attention on fighting the lottery scam and causing other crimes to increase, that was not a fact.

unpopular measures

The high level of fraudulent activities that has been taking place primarily in St James for quite sometime now, has resulted in international money transfer agencies having to take stringent and unpopular measures against their local agents.

Questioned how negatively the illegal activities have affected Western Union, senior vice-president of operations and marketing at GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS), Noel Greenland responded: "The issue for us is significantly bigger. The immediate problem of the lottery scam must be curbed. It is clearly a problem that impacts the community and Jamaica at a much broader level. Jamaica is now being compared to other countries, which is not appreciated, which does not spell well for nation building," Greenland remarked.

Said ACP Watkis: "We have a team focusing their attention on the scamming activities and that will continue. The fact is that we have a problem, which has to be addressed, using all stakeholders, all the resources available and all approaches that can bring about some semblance of a response."

Robb, who was speaking on behalf of the Montego Bay Chamber of Industry and Commerce, said his organisation was not condoning the scamming activity, but wants to have a balanced view in that regard and that the rules of justice be followed.

The discussion was being held at a public forum at the Civic Centre in Montego Bay, recently, which was sponsored by GKMS and was held under the theme: 'Addressing your concerns, taking back Western Jamaica."