Residents fear Central Kingston bloodletting will continue

As a deadly gang feud between the Genasyde and Darkside gangs continues to plague central Kingston, relatives of several gunshot victims told THE WEEKEND STAR that living has simply become an afterthought.

"Is like wi no see the purpose of living again, wi tired a dis!" said Marsha*, who lost her younger brother to the gun violence that has also been crippling their livelihoods.

Since January, the police have reported nearly three dozen gun murders in the division, a 30 per cent surge in shootings and killings. The murder wave, according to Stacy*, will not stop despite the increased police presence.

"Most a di yute dem weh a war against dem one another a defend dem uncle or father weh dead 10, 15, 20 years ago. A di same thing ago happen when fi dem yute grow and get older and find out how dem father, dem brother or uncle dead," she said. On Tuesday, residents protested close to Gordon House, pleading for a zone of special operations (ZOSO) to be established in central Kingston.

When the news team visited sections of the division yesterday, most persons remained tight-lipped as they said speaking to the media could be harmful. But one resident said the violence was not only caused by gang feuds and reprisal killings.

"Sometimes when yuh hear certain place a flare up is because of a woman, or more than one," he said. The resident, who is also lobbying for a ZOSO to be declared in the area, told THE WEEKEND STAR that the gunmen are confident some residents will continue to protect them from the law.

"Most a dem woman yah deh wid dem, and have gunman as dem sons. So when dem go road and do dem thing, dem confident say di mother or woman ago hide information from the police. Dem same one will come back out a road and listen who a inform and go back go tell dem gunman son and man," he said. A cop, one of several seen patrolling the areas yesterday, said that some of the people seen loitering on the corners are merely spotters for criminals.

"It is one of the biggest challenges we face. They have a lot of eyes on the road watching for them. Very hard to come into a community, with a high crime rate such as this, and get much result. Developing a relationship with the residents who are more interested in protecting the same criminals that will turn against them if needs be, is sometimes a futile task," the cop said.

THE WEEKEND STAR was unable to get a comment from head of the Kingston Central Police Division, Senior Superintendent Maldria Jones-Williams, as calls to her mobile went unanswered.

*Names changed to protect identities