The Commission of Enquiry visited Tivoli Gardens on Friday as part of its probe into the operation of May 2010 to apprehend then don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Commission Chairman Sir David Simmons.
The bus departed the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston at 9:30 am for Tivoli Gardens. The tour ran for roughly 3 hrs.
The tour route included most of the sites mentioned during the enquiry.
Tivoli Gardens is a garrison community located in West Kingston and is the birthplace and former ruling grounds of the Jamaican drug lord.
The former Commissioner of Police testified that the crime that took place in other communities across Jamaica also occurred in the Tivoli Gardens community.
Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington yesterday gave the Tivoli Gardens Commission of Enquiry further insight into the power of the Presidential Click led by Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.
Ellington — who was responding to questions from attorney Alexander Williams, who is representing several Tivoli Gardens residents — said that the police never gave up on reaching out to the residents of the West Kingston community.
He said that an attempt was made to start a youth club there in the early 2000s, but the plan was resisted by the Presidential Click.
Ellington said that the club was eventually formed, but with the compromise that it be named after the criminal gang.
He said that after the 2010 operation to apprehend Coke, who was wanted in the United States on drugs and gunrunning charges, the club was relaunched and renamed the Tivoli Gardens Police Youth Club.
The former top cop said the police were then able to run the club as they do the other police youth clubs across the island.
During the afternoon session, Ellington — in a testy exchange with Independent Commission of Investigation (INDECOM) boss Terrence Williams — said that he wasn’t pleased with the compromise that was made.
He said the name Presidential Click was associated with a criminal organization and to brand the group like that would be like supporting the gang.
Earlier, during the morning session, the former top cop testified that the crime that took place in other communities across Jamaica also occurred in Tivoli Gardens.
He said, however, that the police were prevented by criminals from accessing the community to investigate these crimes, which included murders. He added that criminals there enforced a code of silence that made it impossible for crimes committed in the community to be investigated.
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.
The Commission of Enquiry visited Tivoli Gardens on Friday as part of its probe into the operation of May 2010 to apprehend then don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Commission Chairman Sir David Simmons.
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