TERROR IN GREGORY PARK
Residents in fear after community’s ‘protector’ killed in shootout with security forces
ONE MAN was killed and 10 individuals were taken into custody as the St Catherine South Police, assisted by members of the Jamaica Defence Force, descended upon the Caymanas Gardens community and neighbouring Gregory Park in Portmore in an operation that began at midnight.
The man is alleged to have been killed while engaging the security forces in a gunfight.
During the operation, the joint police-military team recovered three firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, a shotgun, assorted rounds of ammunition, and a ballistic vest.
Despite the law enforcement efforts, fear still grips the community as residents expressed concern about being left vulnerable to the rival gangs operating from the nearby ‘Gulf’, an area of the Gregory Park community.
“We nuh have nobody to protect us now. The bad man dem from Gulf will now come in and tek set pon we. The only one dem wey a defend we gone a jail,” lamented one resident to the police, highlighting the sense of abandonment felt by the community with the men now in custody.
FORCED TO TAKE REFUGE
Another resident vividly recounted the terror they faced, describing how they were forced to take refuge under their beds due to the barrage of gunfire.
“A yah so mi live, and mi have to go under my bed because of the gunshot dem wey dem fire in the community a couple nights ago,” revealed another resident.
“We are very, very scared. We can’t sleep in peace. The police alone can’t protect us,” added another.
According to residents, the root of the conflict stems from a turf war over extortion rights on businesses operated by Chinese nationals in the area.
Residents claim that men from Gulf are terrorising them while individuals from Track Road attempt to resist their incursions. This tension escalated recently, culminating in indiscriminate gunfire that shook the community.
Senior Superintendent in charge of the St Catherine North Police, Christopher Phillips, said the gangsters maintained a lookout post, and a team of policemen, responding to reports of indiscriminate gunfire in the area three nights ago, were fired on by the men. He said threats were also issued to the security forces.
“We also observed that the men are utilising roof tops within these communities as lookout posts. One man was held on a roof top during the operation and several assorted rounds of ammunition recovered, so we have also disrupted that,” Phillips revealed.
He emphasised the need for community leaders to establish better communication channels with law enforcement and to provide guidance to the youth.
“This is a community that we will have to get closer with the residents,” Phillips stated, highlighting the importance of community engagement in combating crime.
“I find that where communities are not organised, crime takes root. I have used the opportunity to engage with some residents already,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Phillips assured residents of the police force’s capability to protect them and pledged to maintain a presence in the community.