Craig Town residents flee violence

The atmosphere in Craig Town, Kingston remains tense following a spate of violence linked to gang activities.

The area has been under scrutiny after the killing of an alleged gang leader last week. Then, last Thursday, Ian Dacres, otherwise known as 'Lucky,' a resident of Dumfries, St Thomas, was reportedly found in possession of a 9mm pistol equipped with a magazine containing 19 cartridges.

A curfew - which was initially imposed last Monday before being extended - expired at 6 p.m. yesterday. Senior Superintendent Michael Phipps, head of the Kingston Western Police Division, said the security forces, including the Jamaica Defence Force and Jamaica Constabulary Force "will continue with our operational activities".

"We will continue to assess the area and put in the necessary strategies so that we can impact the space and bring some semblance of control back to the area, in that we get the gangsters out, arrest as many of them as possible, and, where we can prefer charges, we do that, hoping that the situation there will subside," he said.

The Serious Crimes Report for the division shows a decrease in violent crime from January 1 to September 21, compared to the corresponding period last year. Murders are down 23.7 per cent (from 59 to 45) and shootings are down from 24.1 per cent (from 54 to 41). Despite the figures and the presence of the security forces, residents expressed their fears regarding the ongoing violence.

"If I had somewhere to go like some people weh gone, I would be gone too. Everybody is afraid because everything is happening here," one resident remarked. "The war is inside the community and, to me, that worse than a man a come from somewhere else to cause trouble." Another resident lamented the cyclical nature of the violence.

"Every time it boil down little bit, something happen fi the place get back hot. As it dust up, everybody gone in. People have to try and squeeze in everything them have to do in the one day, and most time it nuh work," the person explained.

Concerns about trust in law enforcement were also voiced.

"Mi ago tell yuh the honest truth. Nobody down here don't trust the police," another resident stated, indicating fears that some members of the security forces may be leaking information to gang members. "That's why working people a leave the community."