Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterHEAVILY-ARMED plainclothes and uniformed police personnel patrolled the downtown Kingston market area yesterday as they attempted to keep a lid on the gun violence which erupted in the area recently.
Merchants over the past three days were forced to pull down their shutters, amid sporadic shootings between gunmen from the Tivoli Gardens and Matthews Lane communities.
"We are on foot in the markets and in the streets. Today, we are tackling the problem with a two-pronged approach," Acting Deputy Superintendent Michael Phipps told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday.
Earlier in the morning, a shooting incident along Darling Street sent shoppers and vendors scampering. Relative calm returned later however after a number of police patrol units arrived.
Police theorise that some of the shooting was related to Friday night's killing of one of the trusted lieutenants of Matthews Lane area don, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, in Greenwich Town.
HEAVY POLICE PROTECTION
The fish market area, near the corner of Rose Lane and Spanish Town Road, which has long been a battlefield for opposing gangs, was placed under heavy police protection.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas said the security forces would continue to maintain a presence in the area. He said the police wanted to speak with Victor 'Rooster' Patterson, a former strongman of Matthews Lane, who reportedly defected to Tivoli Gardens, following a fallout with the leadership of Matthews Lane.
About two months ago, his nephew was shot and killed in the West Street area. Allegations are that persons who are loyal to 'Rooster' have since taken the law into their hands, clashing with factions from Matthews Lane in a series of attacks. At least 14 persons have been killed over the past three months, while several others have either been shot or stabbed.
Former People's National Party (PNP) Region Three chairman, Paul Burke, who is working closely with the Peace Management Initiative to restore peace in the area, said a meeting was tentatively set for this week between the leadership of both communities.
