By Sashana Small – STAR Writer—

Members of the Chinese business community said they are terrified of what they describe as a targeted attack on their businesses by criminals.

This follows Sunday morning’s robbery at a Chinese-owned wholesale in May Pen, Clarendon.

A video that has been circulating on social media showed heavily armed gunmen engaging policemen in a shoot-out, while taking the owners as hostages.

Kevin* was in his wholesale in Cross Roads, Kingston, talking to his cousin, who also owns a business, when he saw the video.

“It was like a movie. It made mi feel so frustrated and angry. The Government claim seh dem a do crime fighting, and look how much high-powered weapon deh pon the streets,” he said.

Kevin said that he has been operating his business for 11 years, and has had numerous robbery attempts.

“Two years ago, they were trying to enter my building from the top. I had to call KingAlarm, and someone was in here who had a firearm and went to challenge them, and they ran and left their pliers that they were using to get in,” he said

TARGET CHINESE

He added: “The place just feel unsafe for us business people, once dem see yuh business a do good. We feel targeted. As dem look pan Chinese dem feel seh Chinese have money, suh dem just target Chinese on a whole. Not saying that dem nah go afta other business people, but dem target Chinese,” he said

Another Chinese business operator in St Catherine, who has being operating a haberdashery for five years, told THE STAR that he was robbed at gunpoint in 2017.

“They acted like customers and wait outside in the morning. After we get inside, they held us at gunpoint, and closed the door and started the robbery,” he said

He said that the country must also be mindful that these robberies also affects Jamaicans.

“When they (robbers) get into the business place, they don’t just have the Chinese operator or the owner, but they have all the customers and staff. This not only affects the business, it affects the economy and investments,” he said.

A Chinese wholesale owner in Manchester, who said she has been robbed on two occasions, said the Chinese business community is trying to raise funds to support the cops who got injured in the May Pen robbery.

“We know the police get hurt during the shooting situation, so we are collecting some money, we are getting donations. So far we have collected between $400,000 and $500,000. We are supporting the people who try to protect us,” she said