‘WE TIRED A IT’
The wretched reality of living in Ackee Walk has become almost unbearable for resident Sherene Brown. Brown, 47, told THE STAR that she has lost four family members to gun violence in the small community since 2009.
“Gunman kill me son in 2015. Two years ago, gunman kill me brother and me nephew, and tomorrow a go mek 11 year since gunman kill me other brother,” she said.
Brown is now living in constant fear.
“Me have two more sons … one live here and one live a Old Habour and me a fret fi dem. I feel bad … me caa feel good because we nuh know when next dis a go happen again. We in a sorrows! We in a pain and dem (police) nah comfort we! We tired a it,” she said.
Brown has thought about leaving the community, but says she has nowhere else to go.
“Dis ting just back and forth. We nuh know wah a go happen from dis. A bout five man left in a the yard, and if we nuh careful, dem a go come fi dem same way. We caa even move … weh we a go move go? Every year run one way and if yuh move go a next district, dem a go wonder why yuh come there. A here we born, so we afi stay here,” she said.
HAMPERED BY VIOLENCE
Another resident says the community is being hampered by violence.
“Wah gwaan last night (Tuesday night), it a go tek round three months fi come back. To how di man dem a move, every man coulda dead yah suh last night,” he said.
According to other residents, there are now eight children inside the community who have lost their fathers to violence.
Representatives from the Peace Movement Initiative visited the community, promising women and children a counselling session on Friday at 4 p.m.
One resident says: “None a the pickney dem no go school today … dem a fi stay home. Dem fraid.”