Thugs increase extortion fees in Spanish Town

Operators of public passenger vehicles (PPVs) in Spanish Town, St Catherine, say that since January they have been paying an extra $1,000 in extortion fees lest they face the wrath of thugs who will discipline those who "violate the order".

According to one bus driver, the thugs display a no-nonsense approach to ensure that the new 'rate', which stands at $4,000 each day, is collected.

"Dem no ramp fi box up and beat up anybody who no wah pay," said the bus driver. "Sometimes yuh will all have a one man weh travel on di bus. A him ensure say things smooth yuh seet. Yuh cyah tell dem man yah nothing say no money no mek. Yuh affi secure fi dem man deh own before even the boss."

The extortion rate for taxi operators is at $3,000 per day. There is no place for bargaining according to one cabbie who recalled that he too had felt the wrath of criminality in several ways.

"Mi tell miself mi nah mek no boy tek my hard earn money like that, so the first time a youth 'page me', mi mek him know say that cyah gwan. Mi load mi taxi and when mi come back, a baay lick start reach me. And is like from that incident me no get pardon from no one cause yuh have occasions weh a man might no have the full $3,000 and can gi dem all a $2,000," the cabbie said.

The bus and taxi operators also say that they are watching keenly as events in the much-publicised Clansman-One Don gang trial unfold inside the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston. Alleged members of the notorious criminal organisation, whose base of operations lies in the old capital, are being tried for a raft of criminal offences. Four of the initial 33 defendants were freed as the prosecution said that its evidence was insufficient to trigger any convictions. Chief Justice Bryan Sykes then upheld a no-case submission for another defendant. The prosecution was pursuing extortion charges as well, but Sykes had previously stated that no one has come forward to acknowledge that they are victims of extortion. However, the judge has ruled that the remaining defendants have a case to answer on the charges of being part of a criminal organisation as well as several murders.