By Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer

HIS WRY smile belied the danger he and almost 500 other students face whenever there are violent outbreaks in south St. Andrew.

However, Dennis Kelly, principal of Charlie Smith Comprehen-sive High School, has seen it all. He has been at the school for 29 years, having gone there fresh from Mico College.

Over time, his ears have grown accustomed to the sound of gunfire so yesterday morning was no different. Two men were reportedly killed during a gun battle with the police, and that alone resulted in empty benches at Charlie Smith.

"It seems like a real nightmare," Mr. Kelly said, as he forcefully elicited a smile.

Nearly 500 Charlie Smith students stayed away yesterday as gun violence rocked the Arnett Gardens community once more ­ another in a series of similar gun battles since Good Friday this year.

FIVE TEACHERS TURNED UP

Only five teachers turned up at the school yesterday, as others who were on their way turned back after heeding warnings of the possibility of being caught in the crossfire.

Despite the constant conflict among factions, Mr. Kelly said while he's fed up to some extent, he's not thinking of quitting.

"We really want to give a service and we really aren't able to do so," he told The Gleaner. "We have been under (attack) this from before Easter. It's a long-playing serial."

According to the principal, the violence has already robbed students of vital class hours. He said he feared more days will be lost as the year ends.

Principal for eight years, Mr. Kelly said gang violence was nothing new to him and many of the long-serving staff at the school. In fact, he said he remembered days when 'soldier lorries' carried teachers to the school, to protect them from bullets.

ANOTHER DIMENSION

Now, he said the violence in the community has taken on another dimension.

"The violence then wasn't in your face like now. It was like after school or on weekends."

Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) are that at about 6:00 a.m. yesterday, police from west Kingston were patrolling Trench Town when a group of men was seen with guns. The men shot at the police, who returned the fire, resulting in two of the men being shot dead. The police seized a 9mm pistol with eight rounds of ammunition and a .357 magnum revolver.

INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE

The police are questioning a third man in custody, and the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) is probing the shootings, the CCN said.

Meanwhile, several residents in the community are bemoaning the ineffectiveness of the police in the community. One resident accused them of turning a blind eye to gun-toting men. The police have denied the claim.

Yet, the residents are calling for soldiers to patrol the community.

"When soldiers come in ya, every man affi tek cover," a resident explained.

Others have also called for more proactiveness on the part of Member of Parliament Dr. Omar Davies, in dealing with the continuous war in the community.