Sections of Kingston, Jamaica are under siege tonight as heavily armed police and soldiers are clashing with die-hard defenders of the most powerful don in Jamaica Christopher Coke known as "Dudus". The United States wants him for extradition and after weeks of deliberate foot dragging, the government caved into US pressure and issued an arrest warrant for him on Monday. Those loyal to Dudus in the Tivoli Gardens area have resisted mightily starting on Sunday with the firebombing of police stations and firing on police. A state of emergency was declared and the past two days have seen violent clashes. Officially, 26 civilians, two police officers and one soldier have been killed while 6 police were injured.
Former KREM WUB Host and News Director Kalilah Enriquez, who is pursuing a masters degree in Media Studies at the University of the West Indies in Kingston is also working at CVM one of the leading TV stations in Kingston. Here's the report she filed for CVM.
Kalilah Enriquez, CVM News - Kingston, Jamaica
"These were the armed forces on the water front in down town Kingston about 1pm. In position and full gear as helicopter buzzed over-head and the Coast Guard patrolled the waters. The sound of gunfire was dangerously close. The media was not allowed to go any closer. Reports were that the armed forces had launched an air attack. Several women saying they were residents calling news center expressing fair.
From Arnet Gardens we could see thick black smoke emerging from the coronation market. It is not yet clear how it came ablaze. Residents reports hearing heavy explosions from as early as 10am. On Spanish Town Road this woman was shot just a few feet away from our news team as we prepared for a live broadcast."
"A woman was shot right next to where I am standing. This is the scene here at Spanish Town Road. The shot came literally out of nowhere just moments ago. There were scores of people in the streets."
"Dozens of people have been on the road, gazing at the smoke, the sudden sound of gunshots made them scatter. Meanwhile criminals in other areas have appeared to take advantage of terror in Tivoli to wage their own attack. On Whitfield Avenue two men were shot dead, this house torch and bodies burn inside. a little girl was traumatized, gun men had kick in her door, gun-butted her mother and shot her step father in the head as she watch. She begged our news team to take her somewhere safe and ask whether she will be able to go school tomorrow. The terror of the past several hours has left everyone shaken, especially the children." - Kalilah Enriquez - CVM News
The bottom line is that tonight, West Kingston, which includes the Trenchtown slum where reggae superstar Bob Marley was raised, remains the epicenter of the violence. Brazen gunmen are reported to have even shot up Kingston's central police station. Dudus leads one of the gangs that control politicized slums known as "garrisons." Coke's gang is tied to the governing Jamaica Labor Party.
Email
Print