Biblical Streets: Matthew's Lane want chance to exhale

The residents of Matthews Lane said the absence of an area leader, or 'don', has led to a string of robberies and other illegal activities within the area. Residents told The STAR that since the imprisonment of area don Donald 'Zekes' Phipps in 2006, thugs have been running around 'loosely' in the community.

"No don nuh round here, so all a the likkle man dem who have gun loose," one resident said.

"Everyone a dem own don, and more time the same man dem who you see pass we a day time, a dem same one weh rob we phone and take we tings. The other day me see a youth travel round and sell off him van a cabbage and as him come in with him money, dem take it off a him," one resident said.

Matthew Lane was once 'governed' by Zekes, who is now serving a life sentence for murder.

"More time, the people dem ungrateful bad, because me see a man come in the place a try help out the people dem and a the same man dem from round here go rob him place. To show you how the man good, him don't even press no charge, him make dem walk," the resident said.

But while some Matthews Land residents bemoan the absence of a don, the Government has signalled that communities that are used to having areas leaders directing their affairs should be prepared to live without them. Prime Minister Andrew Holness last week announced the declaration of a state of public emergency for sections of the Corporate Area which includes Matthews Lane.

Holness said that the State of Emergency is part of a wider plan to "degrade and erode the capacity of criminal organisations to operate and control these spaces".

CRIMINALITY CULTURE

The prime minister said that the Government intends to "break and challenge the culture of criminality that exist in some communities within these areas.

"Every community where criminal organisations and dons are operating as laws unto themselves will be addressed," he said.

Matthews Lane residents told The STAR that the most pressing problem in their community is the state of their infrastructure. They want better housing and public utilities.

"The street light dem waah fix inna the place, because a night time you have to mind how yuh walk, or not even you clothes you a go come back with," another resident said.

One woman lamented that persons are unable to get jobs because of their addresses.

"Nuff time, no matter how we qualified we can't get anything. I have been hunting work since I graduated from college and up to now I can't get anything. It look like me have to go use my friend address or something," she said.

Adding that a lot of the youth have very little option after completing high school, the woman said she is hoping that the Government will erect a community centre for them.

"Yes, there are thieves here, but there are also a lot of youths here with talent who would want to make something out of their lives. We no really see MP around this area enuh, but if the Government provide some jobs or even build a centre or sup'm, they would see the difference. You can't just feed us hostility then expect that we are going to be calm," she said.