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Exporting shame - Jamaicans under pressure as Costa Rican authorities crack down on island thugs
Published: Tuesday | December 1, 2009
Jamaicans living in Costa Rica are facing more visa restrictions today as that country's government responds to an upsurge in crime, allegedly linked to gangs from the island.
With the new regime, Jamaicans living in Costa Rica will be required to submit their cases to the Immigration Administration in downtown San José for special review.
Though not outlining the new measures in detail, Mario Zamora, head of Immigration Administration in Costa Rica, announced the restrictions recently in what he said was a reaction to major crimes committed by thugs from Jamaica.
While acknowledging that the majority of the Jamaican gangsters were not in Costa Rica legally and would not be caught under the new restrictions, Zamora said his administration still thinks the new measures are an important step in reducing climbing homicide rates.
"But the details of (each case) will be taken into consideration," Zamora added.
The new rule comes into effect days after the Costa Rican government imposed a ban on new weapons permits to all foreigners and an exhaustive review of all existing firearm permits held by foreigners.
Targeting gangsters
Those measures were also said to target gangsters from Jamaica, although official figures show that of the approximately 2,000 foreign nationals or legal residents with firearm permits in Costa Rica, only four are Jamaicans.
The Costa Rican authorities say the clampdown is directly related to the fatal shooting of 20-year-old student Milena Madriz and police officer Randall Lopez.
According to authorities, Madriz, the daughter of the Dominican Republic ambassador to Costa Rica, was killed by a stray bullet on October 29 in a conflict between Jamaican gangs.
Thirty-year-old Lopez was killed on November 3 in a shoot-out allegedly with Jamaicans, who opened fire on the police with AK-47 rifles in San Antonio de Escazu, a mountain village north-west of San José. The AK-47 bullet pierced the policeman's vest, which was not designed to stop that type of ammunition.
Not isolated events
Four Jamaicans have been taken into custody in connection with the two killings. A machine pistol and at least two AK-47 rifles were reportedly taken from the four.
Jorge Rojas, director of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ), reportedly told a newspaper the two incidents involving Jamaicans were not isolated events.
"This country has a very open policy when it relates to receiving people. Some come to invest, others to kill," Rojas said.
Costa Rica's Caribbean coast is where the colonising Spaniards first arrived, but it is the Jamaicans, more recent arrivals, who have had perhaps the biggest impact.
In sections of the country, reggae has overtaken salsa, spicy jerk pork and chicken have replaced the usual dishes, and Caribbean English with a distinct Jamaican accent is heard as often as Spanish.
According to the Costa Rican media, the reputations of Jamaicans in that country started to take a hit in 2006 when gangsters launched a reign of terror in the country.
Gangs identified
Costa Rican investigators say they have identified two of the Jamaican gangs believed responsible for killings in Costa Rica, including the murder of Nehru Trace Haughton, who was gunned down in April 2007 in a taxi near the La Gallito in Goicoechea.
Lionel Perkins, who is in police custody facing two murder charges, is believed to be the leader of one of the gangs. Another alleged gang leader, McGordon Kirkpatrick, was killed in a shoot-out with the police.
A 17-year-old Jamaican youth was also detained recently and is in preventive detention. Yesterday, The Gleaner was unsuccessful in its efforts to contact Jamaica's honorary consul in Costa Rica.
Published: Tuesday | December 1, 2009
Jamaicans living in Costa Rica are facing more visa restrictions today as that country's government responds to an upsurge in crime, allegedly linked to gangs from the island.
With the new regime, Jamaicans living in Costa Rica will be required to submit their cases to the Immigration Administration in downtown San José for special review.
Though not outlining the new measures in detail, Mario Zamora, head of Immigration Administration in Costa Rica, announced the restrictions recently in what he said was a reaction to major crimes committed by thugs from Jamaica.
While acknowledging that the majority of the Jamaican gangsters were not in Costa Rica legally and would not be caught under the new restrictions, Zamora said his administration still thinks the new measures are an important step in reducing climbing homicide rates.
"But the details of (each case) will be taken into consideration," Zamora added.
The new rule comes into effect days after the Costa Rican government imposed a ban on new weapons permits to all foreigners and an exhaustive review of all existing firearm permits held by foreigners.
Targeting gangsters
Those measures were also said to target gangsters from Jamaica, although official figures show that of the approximately 2,000 foreign nationals or legal residents with firearm permits in Costa Rica, only four are Jamaicans.
The Costa Rican authorities say the clampdown is directly related to the fatal shooting of 20-year-old student Milena Madriz and police officer Randall Lopez.
According to authorities, Madriz, the daughter of the Dominican Republic ambassador to Costa Rica, was killed by a stray bullet on October 29 in a conflict between Jamaican gangs.
Thirty-year-old Lopez was killed on November 3 in a shoot-out allegedly with Jamaicans, who opened fire on the police with AK-47 rifles in San Antonio de Escazu, a mountain village north-west of San José. The AK-47 bullet pierced the policeman's vest, which was not designed to stop that type of ammunition.
Not isolated events
Four Jamaicans have been taken into custody in connection with the two killings. A machine pistol and at least two AK-47 rifles were reportedly taken from the four.
Jorge Rojas, director of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ), reportedly told a newspaper the two incidents involving Jamaicans were not isolated events.
"This country has a very open policy when it relates to receiving people. Some come to invest, others to kill," Rojas said.
Costa Rica's Caribbean coast is where the colonising Spaniards first arrived, but it is the Jamaicans, more recent arrivals, who have had perhaps the biggest impact.
In sections of the country, reggae has overtaken salsa, spicy jerk pork and chicken have replaced the usual dishes, and Caribbean English with a distinct Jamaican accent is heard as often as Spanish.
According to the Costa Rican media, the reputations of Jamaicans in that country started to take a hit in 2006 when gangsters launched a reign of terror in the country.
Gangs identified
Costa Rican investigators say they have identified two of the Jamaican gangs believed responsible for killings in Costa Rica, including the murder of Nehru Trace Haughton, who was gunned down in April 2007 in a taxi near the La Gallito in Goicoechea.
Lionel Perkins, who is in police custody facing two murder charges, is believed to be the leader of one of the gangs. Another alleged gang leader, McGordon Kirkpatrick, was killed in a shoot-out with the police.
A 17-year-old Jamaican youth was also detained recently and is in preventive detention. Yesterday, The Gleaner was unsuccessful in its efforts to contact Jamaica's honorary consul in Costa Rica.
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