Controversial area leader George Phang (left) of Jones Town, listens as Member of Parliament Dr. Omar Davies makes a point during a meeting yesterday to initiate peace in the troubled Arnett Gardens community.
-Norman Grindley photoGlenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
AFTER TWO fiery meetings yesterday with residents of his south St. Andrew constituency, Member of Parliament Dr. Omar Davies called for an end to the month-long conflict between rival gangs and for the schools in the community to re-open by Monday.
"The next step is to stop the guns from firing and then get the leadership of the various communities to start talking," said Dr. Davies, who toured sections of the troubled Jones Town/Arnett Gardens community yesterday.
Although he has proposed to meet with men from the rival communities to further discuss the issue of peace, Dr. Davies, the Finance and Planning Minister, gave a stern warning that he will not be having any dialogue with murderers or persons involved in acts of criminality.
"They must be dealt with by the law enforcers," said Dr. Davies.
During his first meeting at the Jones Town Primary School, the Minister said about three weeks ago he had met with men affiliated with the rival gangs and requested that they put a lid on the escalating feud but sporadic shooting continued.
At his second meeting in 'Top Jungle' the Minister assured residents who were chased out of their homes that they could return home with no harm being done to them.
Among some of the requests made by the citizens to facilitate the peace process were: A peace march across
the affected communities; the removal of a certain area leader from the community and a change in the leadership pattern of the community.
Horace Murphy, better known as 'Ram Johnny', got the support of the men from 'Top Jungle' for a ceasefire. But his plea for peace was met with objections from other members of the community who insisted that if George Phang did not leave, there would be no peace.
On the other hand, Mr. Phang said he did not have the slightest idea why the residents wanted him to leave.
"What George Phang do and why him must leave the community?" said Mr. Phang, posing the question to the audience.
At least two persons have been killed in the community since Good Friday, April 9, followed by sporadic shootings between men loyal to the 'Bi-Bow Posse' which dominates Jones Town, and members from the wider community such as Top Jungle, Pegasus, Angola and Brooklyn. These are housing schemes located in separate phases.
Schools in the community have remained close for the past three days. On Wednesday some people were attacked, beaten and chased out of their homes and a number of cellular phones taken from women who the perpetrators branded as 'look outs' or spies for rival gunmen.
