Kingston mayor denounces killing of Papine Market manager Colleen Bernard

Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby has condemned the Friday murder of Colleen Bernard, the manager of Papine Market, and is asking residents of Mona Commons to give investigators space to do their work.

Swaby said Bernard’s killing was without justification and praised the off-duty policeman who confronted the armed man. According to the mayor, that intervention led to a firearm being seized.

He also appealed for calm in Mona Commons, where Bernard lived, saying the police process should be allowed to run its course before people draw conclusions about what happened.

Swaby said he understood that, in situations like this, people often try to offer their own explanations. However, he said he was awaiting official feedback from the police before commenting further on the circumstances surrounding the murder.

The mayor said the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation has since moved to improve security. He added that counselling will be arranged for staff and vendors at Papine Market as they cope with Bernard’s death.

Swaby said that after learning of the killing on Friday, he led a team to Bernard’s home and to Papine Market. He said little could be done at that moment, as the family was grieving, and the team planned to return later.