The shooting of 51-year-old NCB banker Andrea Lowe-Garwood, during a church service in  Falmouth, Trelawny over the weekend, has revulsed the country and led to calls for greater security in churches.

Lowe-Garwood was killed by a gunman who fled the scene, leaving behind a cell phone. The suspected shooter is now in police custody and is believed to be a hired hitman, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey.

This heinous slaying has put the security of churches and places of worship under the spotlight as they can no longer be considered sacred ground in Jamaica. Murder is once again making headline news with 113 already committed since the start of the year, 12 of them taking place over this past weekend alone.

Some of Jamaica’s leading private sector security bosses spoke with Our Today about security initiatives at places of worship.

Mark Shields, founder and managing director of Shields Crime & Security Consultants Limited:

“The shooting of Andrea Lowe-Garwood has captured the attention of Jamaicans and is most disturbing but this is not the first time for contract killings in church. I can recall two or three incidents that were worrisome.

“The reality is there are few security measures taken by churches. Many of them run on limited budgets and, to provide what is now needed for two or three services a day, can become very expensive.

“There are growing numbers of churches beginning to invest in security but not personal safety. Many church leaders could never imagine that gunmen could be so brazen as to kill at places of worship.

“This shooting was shocking and will make many people fear for their safety when they attend church.”

John Azar, managing director, King Alarms Systems:

“This reprehensible and evil act now shows that churches and places of worship are no longer viewed as sacred by criminals. People normally feel safe in churches and they historically have been seen as places of refuge and safety.

“You now have to be aware at all times that you can be a victim of crime in Jamaica. King Alarm does have churches as clients where we provide alarms, assisting with parking and guards but not securing persons while worshipping.

“I do think some additional measures can be put in place to protect worshippers inside of churches. We all have to be proactive in the fight against crime because criminals are always looking for easy targets. This is a wake-up call and we all have to be on our guard and deploy measures to better protect and secure ourselves – even churches!”

Kenny Benjamin, executive chairman of The Guardsman Group:

“I don’t think we need to rush out and provide extensive security measures for churches across the country as a result of this horrible killing. Jamaica has not descended to that level where that approach is necessary and it will only lead to panic.

From what I gather, this guy was a hitman and the shooting of worshippers does not happen on a regular basis. Let’s all hope it never happens again.

The church is sacrosanct and we in Jamaica have and will always believe so.

Yes, we should condemn it, but we must be careful not to create a panic. We haven’t reached a level of where there are mass killings of people in churches and religious persecutions taking place in Jamaica regularly.

An average criminal in Jamaica would not have done this but, nevertheless, it is still dastardly and people across Jamaica are rightfully appalled.