ZOSO success - Some Corporate Area communities praise security measure

While they agree that they are victims of crime, residents of Greenwich Farm, Denham Town and central Kingston are divided on whether the presence of the military, through the implementation of the zones of special operations (ZOSO), has been a 'success'.

During a visit to these three violence-prone areas by the news team late last week, residents of Denham Town wore a look of despair. Their faces displayed uncertainty, as they wondered what more can be done to release their community from the strong grips of crime and fear. This comes after the shooting death of a Jamaica Defence Force service member early Friday morning.

"The community a see a likkle transformation, yes, because any little thing a happen, we can call dem (security forces) attention to it. But the business dem a suffer, because as it touch 5 p.m., a dem dat a tell yuh fi lock and gwan inside. Me nuh know wah gwan inna the community with the war, but me nuh want nuh more flare-up gwan. This always a gwan any time a back-to-school time, and the pickney dem 'fraid fi come out and dem draw back inna dem schoolwork. Talking 'bout it mek cold bump just wash me," a mother of two related.

Denham Town, in west Kingston, was declared the second ZOSO under the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act in October 2017. Most of the residents indicated that the relationship with the security forces has been god and view their 'protectors' as respectable and nice.

"We alright with dem 'round here, because maybe if dem never deh here at certain points, the shooting woulda more intense 'round here. Me nuh think the soldier dem can do nothing more dan weh dem already a do. A just the man dem inna the community affi just say dem done, otherwise from that, Denham Town need some 'good-up' house. We can start from deh so, fi try uplift the community," another female resident argued.

But the experience for residents of Greenwich Town was starkly different, as they accused soldiers of executing brute force and hurling insults at them. The southwest St Andrew community was declared a ZOSO in 2020 by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, based on the advice of the security forces, as the community struggled with increased gang violence. At the time, the community reported two double murders and eight shootings.

ZOSO

"We tired a dem, dem nah move right wid we in yah. Dem (soldiers) dung yah long time and dem nah do nothing. ZOSO nuh work dung yah," a female resident lamented.

"The place done gone bad already. Me nuh think dem (soldiers) can help we. The place can't come back, because we nuh have nuh freedom. All who have light and water bill fi pay caah make a likkle money fi pay it, because we affi a lock early and dem sumpn deh. If yuh a keep even a cake sale, dem come lock it off. It ruff fi we 'round yah, it come in like a ghost town," she stressed further.

Meanwhile, residents of Parade Gardens in central Kingston lauded the efforts of the security forces and expressed that the implementation of the ZOSO in their community in 2022 was "the best thing dem (the Government) coulda ever do". The community, which has been plagued by the Genahsyde and Darksyde gang conflict, has received some reprieve with the presence of the soldiers.

"By far, we feel likkle better wid dem in here. Party can keep and people can come in a likkle later dan dem normally do, and can do dem business. Right now, if dem liff up, dem get a million call fi come back 'round yah. The relationship good, dem socialise with yuh, dem nah walk pass yuh like yuh is nobody, worse if yuh a elder. No disrespect thing. Without dem, gunshot woulda fire 24/7, but dem gi we a peace a mind," an elderly resident told THE STAR.

While praising the ZOSO, the resident, who has been living in the community for 61 years, expressed hope that persons in the diaspora will be motivated to assist.

"We want dem show more interest and care towards the community [and see] what they can do to assist. If yuh fi really look pon it, we have more beggars than buyers, more hustlers than workers. So, I mean, that again kind a hold down the community," he said.