October has been a bad month for violence everywhere (although I must admit that my perspective is skewed to perceive this, since two recent events hit very close to home. The world, unfortunately, is always a violent place.) In Canada, the Parliament Buildings were attacked and a young soldier lost his life. In Jamaica, close to 100 people lost their lives, the highest amount in four years.
A recent attack on the inner-city community of Rockfort in Kingston accounted for a large portion of these murders. Three young men were murdered and five injured (including a 67-year-old woman) by gunfire. Nobody is talking, not witnesses, not residents who probably know what is going on. This is the don system of running the community at work. People are just trying to protect themselves, understandably, so they will not act as “informants” and risk their lives and status in the community. And people in these communities, to generalize, usually don’t trust the police.
It seems this is a turf war between two different “lanes.” Police were maintaining a presence of up to 36 officers as of last week. I wonder if they are outfitted in their army fatigues, driving around in their hunter green trucks, rifles sticking out, clad in tactical gear. Or I wonder if they are the navy-blue-suited officers, who tend to walk around and sit on the corners, conversing with residents.
I don’t think I will venture down there anytime soon, but I am not unfamiliar with the area, as YOU worked with Rockfort residents for many years. Earlier, this year, we completed a disaster preparedness program, in which dozens of residents were certified with First Aid training. We also provided some small business training and held several workshops. We also participated as a group in the International Coastal Cleanup Day of the nearby beach on Kingston’ harbour. These were some wonderful days that gave one hope.
To secure the foundation of this program, we had to meet with the area don to get permission to operate in the area. It is discouraging and heartbreaking that these events continue to happen, despite the fact that the majority of residents are good, hard-working people who want to improve their lives just like everyone else in the world. Thoughts and prayers are with Rockfort residents.
Jamaican Journal 
It is incredibly sad and disappointing, especially for you as YOU did some good work in the community and they themselves were working towards better days. Although the police say it is simply gang warfare, I saw one TV report in which residents insisted that it was because of “extortion” – residents having to pay a fee (per person) to live in their own home, otherwise they are driven out, burnt out etc., and some people had not been paying up. Something along those lines. But of course, that would still be gang activity, but not “turf wars.” I really do hope that things calm down and that real progress can be made in this fractured community.