Caribbean Crime – Page 13 – The Pen Hustle With Brandy Cavalli

West Kingston Residents Want An End To The Tivoli Enquiry And Compensation From The Jamaican Government

DudusLove — Dudus’ supporters, largely women, demonstrate along Spanish Town Road during the 2010 incursion.

Residents of Tivoli Gardens and surrounding West Kingston communities have threatened to march in a call on authorities to end the Commission of Enquiry currently taking place at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

The residents say that they are not pleased with the proceedings in the enquiry and are calling for it to be scrapped and a decision made to instead compensate those affected in the May, 2010 incursion by the security forces.

“We have been closely watching the enquiry, but we don’t feel any justice going come out of this for us. We believe it is best the authorities end the enquiry and compensate those residents who have suffered as a result of the incursion,” 60-year-old Marcia Morgan told the Jamaica Observer.

The West Kingston resident was part of a group of women and children who Sunday came out of their homes to voice their views.

“I also share that position; instead of spending all of this money on the Commission of Enquiry a fraction of the money used on the proceedings could help people who suffered to restart their lives,” said Sophia Beswick.

As the women shared their concerns some residents in the crowd said that they were willing to stage a march in the area to let their voices be heard.

“Right now when I look back on what has happened I suffered. I even lost a family member as a result of the incursion, but based on what is taking place in the enquiry I don’t see how that will help me in moving forward,” said another resident who identified herself as Sandra.

“We are calling for the authorities to halt this enquiry right now to send a message. People in the area are willing to stage a peace march to let them know we want an end to all what is taking place, is better them compensate the affected people,” said another resident.

Dave Hanson, another resident, insisted that the Commission of Enquiry is a waste of money.

“I think this Commission of Enquiry is all for show and a waste of money, all it is doing is putting money into the pockets of a set of bigwigs. So many things could be done with the money used to organise the enquiry,” he said.

“Compensate us for our losses, we no want no more enquiry,” added Samantha Clarke, another resident.

Jamaica Observer

An Ex-Associate Of Dancehall Artist Vybz Kartel Killed In St Catherine Drive By

A man known to be the former associate of Vybz Kartel, businessman Jamie Ridley was shot during a drive by this morning in the Portmore, St. Catherine parish of Jamaica.

Ridley’s girlfriend “Poochie”, a well known entertainment personality was also shot in ambush.

The incident happened during a fish fry held by Portmore dance personality, Diamond.

The only person killed in the drive by was the 34-year-old businessman Jamie Ridley.

According to local news reports, the incident occurred at about 1:30 am, when a Toyota Corolla pulled up, occupied by an unknown number of gunmen, and allegedly opened gunfire hitting Ridley and two others.

An off duty officer was at the scene, but the shooters were still able to escape.

Ridley’s girlfriend, “Poochie” was taken to hospital.

As of now, there has been no known motive for the shooting.

Stay tuned to The Pen Hustle…

Former Police Chief Testifies That Shower Posse Stockpiled Weapons & Explosives

Former police chief yesterday revealed that in the last decade, the west Kingston-based ‘Shower Posse’, or ‘Presidential Click’ gang – under the direction of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke – “invested” in a stockpile of firepower that made it a significant threat to the State.

Ellington said police intelligence shows that the gang made significant investments in an arsenal of weapons that included 50-calibre rifles, shoulder-mounted weapons, as well as explosives after a deadly firefight in 2001 between members of the security forces and thugs loyal to Coke in the west Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens.

“This represented a shift away from stand-off single-target weapons to group-target weapons, which was new and significant in terms of how criminals were arming themselves in Jamaica,” said Ellington, who was giving evidence before the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry.

He said that the level of investment, coupled with the high level of organisation displayed by the ‘Presidential Click’, made it a “non-traditional, insurgency level” threat to the authority of the State way beyond the capabilities of any other criminal gang operating across the island.

“None [of them] were on the scale of the Tivoli Gardens gang. The Clans [Clansman] and One Order gangs would be the two in the wings that would pose a significant threat, but they were not as organised as the Tivoli Gardens gang,” Ellington told the three-member panel.

“They didn’t make the kind of social investment in communities as the Tivoli Gardens gang did – buying loyalties and actually appearing to operate like a state within a state,” he underscored.

Jamaica Observer