Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Residents of Arnett Gardens are back on the street with the presence of patrols by the security forces on Monday. Workmen from the National Solid Waste Management Authority cleared roadblocks mounted inside Arnett Gardens and Jones Town, where gang warfare has claimed more than 50 lives since April last year. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
AS ARMED security personnel patrolled sections of south St. Andrew yesterday, residents of the embattled constituency hung out on street corners listening to music or playing card games.
After a spate of gang warfare during Christmas, they welcomed the patrols which they say have significantly reduced the violence.
"Since the police come wi can sleep, an' wi nuh hear nuh gunshot," said one woman from Ninth Street in Jones Town. "Wi can walk go every wey now ... Havana, Mexico, Jungle Top. Wi can walk all bout."
In Craig Town where residents claim they have been victims of relentless attacks from gunmen from Jones Town, the sentiments were similar. At noon, a stack of speaker boxes was still in the community's square, signs of a dance that took place there the previous night.
ENJOYED BY ALL
It was the first form of enjoyment for battle-worn residents since hostilities between the factions broke out two weeks ago. A 23-year-old woman, who opted not to disclose her name, told The Gleaner that the pre-Christmas bash was enjoyed by all.
"T'rough the war dem (gunmen) jus' come up an' shoot up the place anytime anything a gwaan," she said. "Last night wi enjoy wiself."
The security detail was despatched to the area to restore calm following several reports of gunfire in some of south St. Andrew's most violent pockets.
Last week, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mark Shields, told The Gleaner that 48 persons had been murdered in south St. Andrew in the last three months.
On December 26, the police arrested three of the constituency's influential leaders for questioning in connection with the fighting. Two of the three men - George Phang and Patrick Roberts - were released last Friday without being charged.
The other man, Phang's younger brother Andrew, was charged with murder, but released on bail.
