Dunkirk residents beg for ZOSO
Some residents in the violence- prone community of Dunkirk in east Kingston are calling for a Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) to be declared in the area. The crime-weary residents are confident that the move would significantly help to combat the violence plaguing the area over the past 12 months.
“No road is safe in the whole place. People have to be cautious when walking anywhere here. It’s a lot of people who got killed or shot up from last year. Di soldier dem deh yah bout three days now, mi wouldn’t mind dem stay forever,” said Mary*, who surmised that more than 50 people have been caught up in gunfire between rival gang members.
“Top Road, York Street, Somerset, Cambridge Street, McIntyre Villa, 1-Ten, 4-Two, Bray Street and so much more. All of these roads are in need of heavy policing. We really need a ZOSO in the area,” she said.
The ZOSOs are designed to bring about transformation in communities through enhanced security presence, as well as the implementation of social programmes and improved infrastructure. ZOSOs are operational in Denham Town, west Kingston; Mount Salem, St James; and Greenwich Town and August Town in St Andrew.
Mary said that the situation has become dire, despite assurances from Kingston East Police Division commanding officer, Superintendent Tomielee Chambers.
KILLED EXECUTION STYLE
“Just a couple Sundays ago dem shoot up yah suh. Look good and yuh will see the bullet holes,” Mary said. Her sentiments were echoed by a relative of slain 19-yearold Daniel Spencer, who was mentally challenged. He was killed, execution style, on April 3 in Franklin Town, Kingston.
The police said that he was shot at the intersection of Upper Sommerset Avenue and Victoria Avenue.
“A yesterday dem do Daniel autopsy. Dem say a di gunshot kill him, but since him dead di shooting nuh stop. People nah live in peace right now, wi need more police and soldier in the area,” the relative said.
On Wednesday, our news team saw two military vehicles stationed in a section of the community called Site. Superintendent Chambers told that the soldiers’ presence were part of a threeday joint police/military activity in the area.
“On the presence in the Dunkirk area, we have them there just to make sure that everything is going well. We haven’t had a major incident in the community for me to comment on that (residents’ cry for ZOSO). But what I can say is that we have increased our presence with the aim of apprehending a man, whom we have listed as wanted last week for some serious crimes in the area,” she said.
A senior citizen said the past year has been the worst she has experienced in the community.
“I cannot tell if one week has passed and I don’t hear gunshots or hear about gunshots somewhere bout the place. McIntyre Villa, Newton Square, 4-Two, everywhere having them own flare-ups of violence. I have been here for a little over 30 years now, it is the worst year I have experienced,” the elderly resident said.