AceGawd concerned about Manchester

Despite a drop in murders compared to 2024, dancehall artiste AceGawd is not satisfied with the crime rate in his home parish of Manchester, and is imploring the violence producers to have a change of heart.

"Mi wah di man dem and woman dem too say we need to stop kill off each other. Too much tings a happen and mi nuh feel good star. A Manchester a mi place and mi never expect say dem tings ya would a happen to mi good good place. Manchester use to be a place where people come retire but is like people nah hold nuh medz," he said.

As at October 11, 26 persons have been murdered, which is 16 less when compared to the corresponding period in 2024, a 38.1 per cent decrease. However, rapes are up 111.1 per cent, with 19 so far in 2025, compared to nine at the corresponding period.

But Manchester has had troubling news this year. For example, in September, a deportee shot and killed one man along Caledonia Road in Mandeville before being killed by police in a stand-off. Other incidents have rocked the nation, including the death of 13-year-old Shantina Sergeant. The partially burnt and decomposed body of Shantina, who lived in Baillieston, Clarendon but attended Christiana High School in Manchester, was found in the back of her yard days after she was reported missing. A post mortem revealed that the teenager died from blunt force trauma. AceGawd also told THE WEEKEND STAR that his thoughts were also heavily on the whereabouts of missing Manchester High School student Jayden Smith.

"From mi a yute, we always hear say the youth dem a the future, but what kinda future when the children are not safe? Mi a beg anybody who know where the little juvenile is to just talk up, or if uno know what happen to him, just talk. I am praying that him will get back home safe to him family. Di little man fi deh a school but now dem can't find him so people dem fi just do the right ting," AceGawd said. The search continues for the 12-year-old, who has been missing since September 26. His disappearance has triggered a high alert for the police and citizens islandwide.