WEEKS AFTER scores of residents fled their homes in Gravel Heights, St Catherine, following an ultimatum from gunmen, Prime Minister Bruce Golding has ordered a military presence in the community.

In a release from the Office of the Prime Minister last evening, Golding instructed the army to establish a temporary post in Gravel Heights, to bring the situation there under control.

Yesterday, head of the St Catherine North Police Division, Superintendent Assan Thompson, said Gravel Heights was a very difficult area to police.

He said that the unplanned nature of the community made it challenging for the police to properly penetrate the area.

The prime minister said every effort would be made to ensure that persons who were forced to flee the community would be able to return to their homes.

"The Government will not allow criminal elements to continue to terrorise law-abiding citizens. We promised to intensify our police and military operations for this year and we will continue to keep up the pressure," Golding stated.

Meanwhile, members of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) and other agencies toured troubled communities on Wednesday.

The PMI, Social Development Commission and representatives of the Ministry of National Security toured sections of Tawes Pen, Ellerslie Pen, Rivoli and Gravel Heights.