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'Coke wants peace'

Published:Monday | June 28, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Reverend Al Miller gets involved in a worship service at his Fellowship Tabernacle, St Andrew, church during yesterday's morning service. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Christopher 'Dudus' Coke . - file
Christopher 'Dudus' Coke . - file
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Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

Controversial pastor Reverend Merrick 'Al' Miller is claiming that alleged drug kingpin Christopher 'Dudus' Coke wanted to surrender to the authorities last week in the hope that his decision would bring an end to the gang violence and garrison politics that have for decades blighted the nation.

Miller, who was addressing the congregation at his Fellowship Tabernacle church in St Andrew for the first time since being charged with harbouring a fugitive and perverting the course of justice, said Coke's stance had made him optimistic about the future.

"He (Coke) said in reference to the historical 'garrisonisation' of communities, gangs and all that emanates from it, 'Since it started with me (his family), let it end with me'," Miller told the congregation. "Hence, his surrender is his desire to continue to help bring it to an end."

Before Dudus, his father, Lester Lloyd 'Jim Brown' Coke, was the don of Tivoli Gardens in west Kingston and head of the Shower Posse who ruled with an iron fist. Before his death behind prison bars in 1992, Jim Brown was also one of many politically connected gang leaders responsible for infamous acts of violence that rocked the nation throughout the 1980s and 1990s and continue to this day.

After yesterday's service, Miller told The Gleaner that the younger Coke would have to give restitution by assisting to "clean up what he helped to mess up".

Forgiveness, healing needed

The pastor said he was hoping for forgiveness and healing for the entire nation.

"As we go forward, I ask you and the nation to consider the following three things. Forgive those who have done us wrong. Let us now be careful how we go about penalising victims of what we have created, fed and allowed to flourish for decades. To do so is not just. Let us create a framework for a fresh start for all and for the nation," he said.

The colourful cleric was with Coke last Tuesday afternoon when the police stopped the SUV in which they were travelling along Mandela Highway, on the border of St Andrew and St Catherine.

The security forces had been searching for Coke, for almost a month, to execute an arrest warrant issued after Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne signed an order to start extradition proceedings against him.

The United States government had requested his extradition last August after slapping the alleged current leader of the Shower Posse with drug and gunrunning charges.

After Coke's capture on the Mandela Highway, Miller claimed he and the fugitive were on their way to the US Embassy in Liguanea, St Andrew, where Dudus intended to surrender.

Coke, who has since been extradited to the US, released a statement before he left Jamaica, acknowledging that the entire country had been adversely affected by the bloodshed related to his extradition.

He said he hoped his decision would help to heal the community of Tivoli Gardens, which the army stormed to capture him and uproot a militia of supporters, resulting in the deaths of one soldier and 73 civilians.

Yesterday, Miller, stressing that justice was central to the change the society requires, also called for the Government to institute a gun amnesty to give youth a new beginning.

"Let's ask the Government, the prime minister and leader of the opposition to urgently do whatever is necessary to give a period of amnesty for guns and weapons," he said. "The political parties have in the past unofficially placed guns in the hands of our youth. They should now officially take them out by allowing this amnesty and forgive their offences."

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com