Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Hazel Tucker, resident of Torrington Park, South St. Andrew, questions DCP Mark Shields during a tour of the area yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SKA MUSIC blared from giant speakers in the Jones Town Cultural Centre on Boxing Day. Old folks 'dropped legs' to the uptempo beat, choosing to forget if only briefly, the bloodshed that has stained their community.
In the past three months, there has been a series of murders in south St. Andrew, the constituency to which Jones Town belongs. Other communities such as Arnett Gardens, Craig Town and Benbow Street, Mexico, Angola and Havana Heights, have also felt the heat of bullets.
Police report that there have been as many as 48 murders in the constituency since September.
According to some persons who have lived in south St. Andrew for many years, they have never before witnessed this type of warfare. Not even in the 1970s when gangs, split along political lines, fought for control.
"Wha' gwaan ya now is like a civil war. It very bad 'cause the children cyaan go a school an' people cyaan sleep at night," said one man from Jones Town who chose not to identify himself.
DOING IT FOR FUN
Another man from the Vernon Arnett Drive section of the constituency who also declined to give his name, says the gunmen behind the violence are "doing it for fun."
He added: "Dem jus' a enjoy demself."
That 'enjoyment' has forced several residents to flee their homes in south St. Andrew, a constituency with strong ties to the governing People's National Party (PNP).
Last Monday, as the fighting escalated, the police detained brothers George and Andrew Phang and music industry executive Patrick Roberts, for their alleged links to the violence.
The Phangs are influential figures in Jones Town while Mr. Roberts was born and raised in Craig Town where he has a loyal following. Both communities have been at odds for some time.
Although there was an outbreak of shooting after George Phang was shot in Jones Town in March 2003, some say there has been no let-up in the war since Anthony 'Chunskie' Folkes was murdered at Collie Smith Drive in Rema in April 2004.
The 48-year-old Folkes, according to some, was a Phang ally and a popular personality. His death, they say, sparked a series of reprisals.
Last Thursday, police from the Kingston West Division and the National Works Agency removed debris used to block roads and lanes. Residents say they put them there to prevent attacks by gunmen.
Superintendent Delroy Hewitt, who was appointed head of Kingston West four months ago, says violence in south St. Andrew has accounted for most of the 130-odd deaths recorded in the division in 2005. Kingston West also includes communities such as Denham Town, Tivoli Gardens and Hannah Town.
Mr. Hewitt said Jones Town is the area that most concerns his department.
"Jones Town is the headquarters. That's really Phang's base and that's where the Bibow gang is from," he explained. Mr. Hewitt says the police have made several arrests and charged persons for some of the murders, but did not say for which.
Several persons with whom The Sunday Gleaner spoke in south St. Andrew, were critical of Member of Parliament Dr. Omar Davies, the country's Finance Minister who is also campaigning to succeed P.J. Patterson as president of the PNP and prime minister.
"Him nah gwaan wid nuthin'. Nex' election him cyaan even get a vote roun' ya so," said the man from Vernon Arnett Drive.
The man from Jones Town disagreed.
"Most people dem sey dem not seeing the MP as much as dem should, but mi figure dat him give up," he said.
Attempts by The Sunday Gleaner to get a comment from Dr. Davies were un-successful.
