When it a go end? - Park Lane and 100 Lane residents beg for peace

Residents of Park Lane and 100 Lane off Red Hills Road are no strangers to gunshots. Both communities have been at war for some time now, and while residents agree that bullets have been a staple in their community, they are outraged at the recent upsurge of violence that has been sending them to funerals almost every Sunday.

One resident of 100 Lane told THE STAR that everybody is a target, just by association.

"This (the war) gang related and family related. Once them know that yuh related to 100 Lane or Park Lane, a problem that fi you. Nobody nuh safe ... as the place start get dark, you better avoid the road," he said.

The 50-year-old man says nobody is safe.

"Sometimes it get to me mentally and it mash up me business and thing. But because I can't do no better, me just a gwaan ping pong. Just a hope that better will come and me can move. Right now, me nuh wah deh yah," he said.

Another resident said that he has been living in 100 Lane all his life and said that he has been surrounded by death and bloodshed.

"The conflicts weh a gwaan now a stem from everything that happen from way back when. A long time these lanes in a war. And all going on now is egotistic gunfire. People just a kill them one another because a ego," he said.

My experience

The man said that he is prepared for death as long as he is living in 100 Lane.

"We nuh free and the people dem fraid! Based on my experience pon the streets, I don't really fear death. Me have a different outlook. If a today and right now me fi dead, so be it ... me ready."

Park Lane residents share the same agony and frustration.

"The kids can't see door. You don't know when a bike man a go ride up and start shoot. This is a ghost town ... we are tired of nine nights and dead yards and funerals. Enough is enough," a frustrated single mother pleaded.

She told THE STAR that only innocent people are paying the price.

"Is always a innocent yute a fi a get buried and nothing not changing. I wouldn't even wish fi my worst enemy live round here."

Another Park Lane resident declared the community as a war zone.

"Not even dog deh pon the road. We bawl fi peace and dem bruck it. We keep party and dance and everything ... but dem no waan peace. Every day is another one. Is a routine ... wait fi the shot den get flat. We used to dat .... But when it a go end?" he asked.