- File
A Jamaica Defence Force soldier on patrol in Arnett Gardens during violent flare-ups recently.
Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
THE BATTLE-WEARY community of Arnett Gardens in South St. Andrew has known more than its share of violence over the past 30 years. Equally, it has produced some of the island's top flight musicians and reggae artistes. Arnett Gardens has seen a change from a centre of creativity to a sweeping war zone.
The transformation of this once quiet community began after the 1972 elections. The wooden shacks and dilapidated zinc fences of the 1960s, which once stretched from Spanish Town Road to the top of Collie Smith Drive, in Arnett Gardens, have been replaced by high-rise concrete structures.
The site on which the Arnett Gardens Sports Complex is constructed was once known as Ghost Town.
The latest round of hostility in this People's National Party (PNP) enclave is really just another chapter in its frightful history.
Over the years, Arnett Gardens has become a haven for some of the countries most wanted fugitives, who occupied the number one slot on the police most wanted list. Among the most notorious were members of the Wild Bunch Gang, which included Anthony Tingle, alias 'General Starkey' and his partner known only as 'Danie'. They reigned in the late 1970s and into early '80s era.
Tingle, who orginated from James Street in Central King-ston, came to prominence after moving to Arnett Gardens.
After Tingle's death on June 1, 1981, Christopher Henry, alias 'Natty Chris' shot to the top of the police most wanted list. Henry, who always had a sheepish smile on 'Tel-Aviv Gang' in Central Kingston.
He was implicated in the April 19, 1980 Gold Street Massacre, where four persons were shot and killed and 13 others injured, by more than 40 heavily armed gunmen attired in military fatigues, who invaded a dance in Southside, Central Kingston.
Henry was killed in 1984, about a week after he allegedly burnt down a policeman's house in Arnett Gardens. Then came Radcliffe Rowe and Ian 'Stella' Scott of the 1990s. Police said the latter two were like terrorists to the community.
Rowe was transformed from a footballer to a killer. He was involved in an internal feud with rival gunmen from the community. His life came to an end in 1992, following a shoot-out with the police. 'Stella' Scott was featured in a number of robberies and killings. He too was cornered and killed by the police during a shoot-out in 1997.
Retired Detective Senior Superintendent, Tony Hewitt, who led the operation on the morning of June 1, 1981 to captured Tingle, customarily referred to as 'The General', remembers every moment of the operation, as if it was yesterday.
"'Starkey' was a dangerous criminal, he started killing people from his early teens, he and the one known as 'Danie'," the retired SSP told The Sunday Gleaner on Thursday.
Responding to questions about the contrast between the notorious gunmen of the 1970s and those of today, the experienced investigator made the observation that the modern-day criminals are using technology to their advantage. He also emphasised that they are more callous and eager to execute witnesses.
ONE STEP AHEAD
"They are more organised, using cellular phones to communicate. Back in the days, those criminals like 'Starkey' had no means of communication," said Mr. Hewitt, who served the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) for more than 40 years.
In the effort to fight current criminals effectively, the retired detective said the police of today must, at all times, be one step ahead of the criminals.
"The only way you can do this, you have to have the intelligence. Some of these detectives are not all that street smart and that is what is lacking in the JCF," said Mr. Hewitt.
Regarded as a former legend of the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB), Mr. Hewitt lamented that the police cannot glean that type of intelligence, unless they are trusted by the residents.
The retired SSP regards Percival O'Bryan and Ira Barrett, as the most dangerous criminals he had come across. They were two of the country's top bank robbers.
But Arnett Gardens has also been home to many law-abiding citizens. To many who grew up in that community during the 1950s, it was once a peaceful little place where musicians and sportsmen excelled.
"Ironically, it has produced a lot of gunmen, but there is no place in the world that has turned out the talent that this community has turned out," commented Junior Lincoln, chairman of Can-Cara Development Limited, who spent most of his youthful years in Arnett Gardens.
ONE PEOPLE
Pointing to the rich talent of reggae stalwarts such as Joe Higgs, Toots Hibbert, the Heptones, Cynthia Schloss, Stranger Cole, Delroy Wilson, Roy Shirley, the Wailing Souls, Bob Marley, Alton Ellis and Dean Frazer, an almost emotional Lincoln bemoans the present crisis of the community, which he believes is lacking good role models.
"In those days (1950s) everybody from Arnett Gardens/Jones Town down to Spanish Town Road, we were one people. There was no violence, there were no community gangs or men on the corners fighting against each other. The only thing we were afraid of was to pass the May Pen Cemetery at nights," said Mr. Lincoln.
Bernard Collins, the lead singer of the Abyssinians, whose song Satta Massa Gana was the unofficial anthem of reggae music, remembers the spiritual vibes among the men.
"We were like one big family, the only troublemakers in those days (1960s) were pickpockets and thieves who grab people's belongings and ran," said Mr. Collins.
The area was a Jamaica Labour Party constituecny back in the 1960s when Eugene C.L. Parkinson put an end to the PNP's Vernon Arnett's political career, polling 4,160 to Arnett's 3,522, a majority of 648. The PNP reclaimed the constituency in 1972, when Anthony Spaulding defeated Mrs. Parkinson in an extremely close contest. The PNP polled 3,658 and the JLP 3,556 a majority of 102.
