Bounty Killer calls for peace in Seaview Gardens

Operations Officer of the St Andrew South Police Division, Superintendent Damion Manderson, is commending dancehall artiste Bounty Killer and friends for turning out at a peace initiative held in Seaview Gardens last Thursday.

The meeting was held just hours after a man was murdered in a section of the community. He said the meeting was organised by the police through its Community Safety and Security Branch.

"We have gone about using what appeals greatest to the communities to bring the community together and bring some of the critical stakeholders together as we seek to forge some level of peace in the area. We want to appeal to the youth, especially the young men. We have had a series of these concerts, namely, in Tavares Gardens, Cockburn Gardens and Waterhouse so far," he said.

In addition to Bounty Killer, Seaview Gardens is also the home ground of artistes such as Shabba Ranks, Nitty Kutchie, Dexta Daps and Elephant Man.

"Seaview is a 'party place', as they would call it, and the area has a rich history of dancehall artistes. So once we decide that we are going inside Seaview, I reached out to Rodney Price (Bounty Killer's given name) and asked if he was willing to partner with us, and he said of course. You know once he is there he is going to bring his other friends; and he came and did his thing," he said.

Speaking to residents and the security forces, Bounty Killer implored the violence producers to desist from painting the community red with blood.

"I pack my bags and I left and everybody say, 'Bounty run weh from Seaview'. But a man who runs lives to fight another day, and that's why I am here today still fighting for the peace initiative. I am saying that the young people dem in this community weh a mash it up, we not accepting it. Seaview is the golden pot of the music, and we can't make few bad apple spoil the golden pot," Bounty Killer said.

The Kingston 11 community has been plagued by violence and criminal activities for months. Manderson told THE STAR that this has even prevented some residents from attending the peace meeting.

"We thought about cancelling after the murder that day, but we decided that this is the very reason why we are here, so we [are] going to push on. We are going to have more meetings over the next two or three months as we try to forge the peace, and we are going to restore some joint institutions, such as the police youth club, within that space," he said.

Manderson said Seaview Gardens is being affected by a ganglike level of violence with murders, shootings and reprisals, some spanning over months.

"We do believe that the numbers of individuals and players are minimal, but we require the partnership of the community and stakeholders, such as the Church, to assist with those who can be reformed. We have made significant headway as it relates to charging and arresting persons. We have had several gun seizures within the space, but it does not mean we believe that we have arrived," Manderson added.

He also stated that some of the violence producers do not reside in Jamaica, but continue to influence the youth negatively.

"They have migrated and living in what I consider to be comfortable settings, but they are manipulating and using the youngsters for negative acts, so those are some of the youngsters that we are trying to reach," the senior cop said.

Bounty Killer said that the community has too many stars for a few unscrupulous persons to "mash up dis".

"So people, mi use to mix cement, be a cobbler, and clean gully. My madda use to sweep the street, and Shabba madda use to sweep the street for we to eat. This is how hard Seaview people go fi dem kids, so we can't afford fi make few little stupid idiots weh don't see the vision and the brighter day come darken our days. So Seaview, let's do what we suppose to do and push dem out. We got to do that and bring back the morals," he said.