By Claude Mills, Staff ReporterONE OF the cardinal rules of life in the ghetto is: thou shalt not cross border lines. And the border lines are everywhere in the Parade Gardens community of Central Kingston, cutting across geographical areas with differing political affiliations from Laws Street, Rose-marie Lane, Rum Lane, Wildman Street, Southside, Gold Street, to Rose Gardens.
The area has long been the stage for macho street theatre perpetuated by teenage toughs seeking to control territory, and protect themselves from a perceived enemy.
Fear and mistrust of this perceived enemy has resulted in the mounting of emotional and physical defences, where otherwise healthy and normal young men impose a form of social isolation on themselves.
Afraid to cross border lines, they have severed family ties, embraced insularity and foregone opportunities to advance their education and employment. The problem was further compounded by overcrowded housing conditions, inadequate social amenities, and high unemployment rates due to business migration and poverty.
Now, the work of the fledgling Central Kingston Task Force (CKTF), formed in May 2003, is trying to change all that.
'A DIALOGUE FOR PEACE'
"This is not a peace, this is a unity, a dialogue for peace," says Dunstan Whittingham, chairman of the CKTF.
"People who are hurting have come together. Kids can play on the streets again. People can stop going to their beds before 5:30 p.m. There can be no development in this area until we stop 'bussing' the gun... there have been no housing developments in this area for 35 years. We live, sleep, work here, this is our Cherry Gardens; we will spend the rest of our lives here," Mr. Whittingham intoned passionately.
Parade Gardens is bordered to the north by East Queen Street, south by Harbour Street, east by Elletson Road and west by East Street.
The community leaders from central Kingston which include small fiefdoms like 'Southside', Rose Gardens, and Spoilers (Wildman Street and Rum Lane) have made an ironclad commitment to peace. They have been holding meetings with representatives from the police, private sector, social agencies, political directorate and even spiritual leaders to forge links that will hopefully ward off the threat of violence, and put a check on the slaughter.
MEET EVERY TWO WEEKS
The leaders meet at the Harbour Street offices of Grace, Kennedy every two weeks along with Frances Madden, of the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation to hammer out problems, and tackle thorny issues.
Problems are approached head-on, former enemies sit side by side, accusations fly left and right, and solutions are ironed out. While the meetings may not entirely eliminate spasms of violence or malice aforethought, the 'unity' is working.
In spite of the problems, a step has been made in the right direction. Community links will be strengthened by a host of ideas such as quiz and debating contests, a culinary contest; basketball, netball and a five-a-side football contest throughout the constituency, a mass dance at Highholborn Street; and a memorial service and crusade on West Lane for the lives of all those slain in the internecine violence of the area.
A rapprochement that once seemed hazy and far-off now suddenly seems attainable, and for the people of Central Kingston, the future is looking better.
