By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterTWO LARGE black flags fluttered in the breeze on Monday, from their makeshift mast hoisted on zinc fences along Job Lane in Spanish Town, central St. Catherine, where nine persons were shot Friday night, five fatally, during a drive-by shooting.
A group of fearful residents, some with pieces of black cloth tied around their heads, sat outside, near the 'corner shop' where the men were shot, reminiscing about what had taken place.
Fresh evidence has now surfaced to link members of 'One Order Gang' to the shooting. It is alleged that the car which was used in the drive-by shooting is owned by a man who lives in the community.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Lucius Thomas confirmed that the flare-up was between rival factions in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) stronghold of Central St. Catherine. It is the powerful One Order Gang against pockets of persons within the constituency, who have been refusing to be governed by the so-called laws set out by the gang members.
Information reaching the police is that Friday night's shooting is centred around a number of conflicts. The two main issues surround the recent stoppage of work at a construction site on Brunswick Avenue, Spanish Town, and the death of man known only as 'Garthy', who was executed by gunmen in Homestead last Wednesday.
DCP Thomas has dismissed allegations that the drive-by shooting is linked to a feud between the two most powerful gangs in Spanish Town - 'One Order' and 'Clansman'.
Residents described the once lively community of Job Lane as a ghost town at nights. 'One Order' is headed by a deportee known only as 'Bubba' who reportedly wants to amalgamate all gangs located in the JLP stronghold of Central St. Catherine. The 'Clansman' gang, led by 'Bulbie', a man who has been on the police's most wanted list for more than 10 years, has spread its net across the People's National Party (PNP) controlled areas of the constituency - namely Revolie, Lakes Pen and sections of the dormitory community of Portmore.
Members of both gangs depend on money collected from extortion rackets to survive.
MORE THAN WAR
"What we have here now is more than war, because the consequences of these crises are similar to war. The ownership of a gun in Spanish Town is a power status. It is a means of earning a livelihood. It is used in extortion, robberies and to some extent acts of rapes," said Spanish Town's Mayor, Dr. Raymoth Notice.
He believes the high unemployment and the underdeveloped inner-city communities in Spanish Town contribute to the growing crime trend. The Mayor said there are members of the business community paying out between $20,000 and $40,000 per month to extortionists.
Mayor Notice blamed the politicians.
He said the politicians created a system where persons who were linked to the gun were dependent on them (politicians), but now the gunmen have become too independent and were now uncontrollable.
Speaking with The Gleaner, vendors at the Spanish Town Market said on a weekly basis, the extortionists would come around with plastic bags to every vendor, who are required to pay over extortion money of a minimum of $50.
