Lynda Langford, country operations manager at Affiliated Computer Services, which operates 749 other locations around the world, says the situation could result in her company pulling out of Jamaica, with its over 1,400 jobs.

"No successful business can operate in a climate like this.  It is just not possible," she stressed.

"There are countries such as Santa Domingo and Guatemala where English language is now mandated in all primary schools, so before long, Jamaica will be losing the edge with the language.  If things don't improve, and we consider these destinations safer, we will certainly take our business out of Jamaica," Langford added.

The murderous rampage has resulted in an unprecedented 168 killings this year, six of which have been linked to the illicit lottery scam that fleeces unsuspecting American citizens of millions of dollars.  There is also intelligence that monies from the scam are being used in the acquisition of illegal guns.

The businesswoman, who was a guest at a Gleaner Editors' Forum in Montego Bay, on Thursday, added: "We would like to add a third shift to our operations here in Montego Bay, but it is just not possible, because our workers are very afraid of leaving their homes at nights because of the violence."

Police say the lottery scam is being facilitated through unscrupulous ICT workers providing local scam artists with personal information on American clients, who are then conned out of large sums of money under the guise that they are paying for a legitimate service.

"When a person commits e-fraud, it is murder.  It is the murder of someone's identity," lamented Langford.  "While there is no blood, no body or no bullets, it really amounts to sucking away someone's life blood."

Detective Sergeant Carl Brown of the Area One Fraud Squad, disclosed that scam artists were generating as much as US$10,000 per month from the illicit scheme.

"We are now investigating a single case in which a 79-year-old American woman was fleeced of US$119,000 over a six-month period," he stated.  "The scam is widespread, as even schoolchildren are being drafted into it."

Local detectives are being handicapped in the preparation of their cases by the fact that American victims are reluctant to come to Jamaica and testify in court, because of factors such as time-off from their jobs and travel costs.  But Deputy Commis-sioner of Police, Mark Shields, officer in charge of crime, said the police will be using all the resources at their disposal to stop the scam.

Making headway

"While we are making significant headway in trying to break the back of the scam, it is very difficult to get the complainants in the United States to come here and testify," commented DCP Shields.

"Under the current law in Jamaica, a complainant is required to come here and testify in person."

Several persons, including two policemen, who have been implicated in the illicit scam, have been arrested, and are to face criminal charges pending further investigations.

"I believe the law should be changed so that video testimony could be admitted in court, because it is not always convenient for people to leave their jobs in the United States and come to court here in Jamaica," Langford said.  "And, as you know, down here, if one person relevant to the case is not present, the case sometimes gets put off for as much as a month or two."

article link