Blair BISHOP HERRO Blair, chairman of the Peace Management Initiative, and his team were called on again this week to intervene in another conflict in an inner-city community where there has been an upsurge of gun violence and loss of lives.
This time it is the Windsor Heights community in St. Catherine South Central, a stronghold of the People's National Party.
"About eight people have been killed within a week," the PNP's candidate, Sharon Hay-Webster, told The Gleaner on Wednesday during a tour of the troubled areas.
She said that since the death a week ago of Linden Brown, 55, nicknamed 'Pantus', there has been a spate of shootings and killings. Brown was a reputed area leader.
The violence has become so intense that parents have refused to send children to school, while some families have fled their homes on First Avenue, which is located in a section of the community known as 'Compound'.
Sandra Young, principal of the Gwen Neil Basic School, said the violence has had a serious impact on her students, most of whom have been traumatised by the incidents.
According to Miss Young, the number of students attending her school has dwindled from 50 to 15.
"I know of another basic school in the community where at least one teacher resigned, Miss Young said.
Residents of 'Compound' complained bitterly of how they were being targeted. Norma Leslie sobbed as she told the story of how her son, Boysie Christopher Seymour, 32, was gunned down in the community last Wednesday.
Melissa Brown buried her face in the bosom of Joan Farquharson, her stepmother, and wept. She was still mourning the death of her father, Linden Brown, the reputed area leader, who was likened to a godfather to the people.
"It is regrettable that what has happened here has taken place", said Bishop Blair. "We are here to walk and talk with the people. (From) what we have seen it appears as if the reprisals are over. We are hoping that things can go back to normal, but we want to meet with the men, the offenders from both sides," he told the residents.
Reports are that the conflict is between rival PNP factions from sections of the community known as 'China Town' and 'Compound'.
Bishop Blair promised to re-visit the area to intervene in another flare-up this time between rival JLP factions in the Big Lane area of Central Village.
