'Dudus' still at large

BY KARYL WALKER Online editor walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

TIVOLI Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke is still at large despite a major security dragnet imposed on the volatile community of Tivoli Gardens during a two-day operation by the security forces.

National Security Minister Dwight Nelson made the announcement during a press briefing at Jamaica House this afternoon.

"Up to the last briefing I got the answer is no," Nelson told journalists.

The security forces stormed the community in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant on Coke, who is wanted by United States authorities on gun and drug running charges.

Official police reports are that 26 civilians, two police officers and a soldier have been killed during the outbreak of violence. Seven cops and four Jamaica Defence Force soldiers were also injured.

Army fatigues, ballistic vests, binoculars and a cache of guns and ammunition were recovered during the operation.

Colonel Rocky Meade, head of communications of the Jamaica Defence Force shot down claims that soldiers were burning bodies inside Tivoli Gardens.

"Based on our training I would be very surprised if those reports were true," Meade said.

He said the security forces used the necessary force to repel the threat posed to the state.

"The JDF owns no fighter jets but I can assure you that we used no more force than was necessary to protect our troops," Meade said.

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COMMENTS (22)

Yard Vibz
5/25/2010

Like everyone else, I too have followed the now infamous Dudus saga and I often shiver in amazement at the sink-hole that we have managed to place ourselves in. 'Blind man', you vision is not quite 20/20, but it is far from being impaired. I have read several of the posted comments and without any apology; I will say that many of the posters are severely deprived of analytical skills. Upon until now, no one has mentioned the real culprit (poverty) behind Dudus’ rise to stardom. Everyday nuff people, many of whom are mopping floors in America, Canada & various places in Europe, have embarked on the fire-storm which called for the destruction of West Kgn. According to these self-proclaimed righteous one, a bomb should be dropped on Tivoli and destroy even the new born. In developed societies, the ‘Welfare system’ is designed to dilute the demand for the Duduses, but in poor lands such as ours, there is no such thing, hence the void is being filled by Dons (Duduses). Peace!

tina chambers
5/25/2010

I did not know there were so many guns in Jamaica..and these politicians knew about the guns and who as them and do nothing...endangering the security forces and innocent people...THAT IS SO WICKED!!!!

Mr Lawman
5/25/2010

"Man affi dead so man affi live", I read that recently and it's so true. Ignorance is a terrible thing and the people in Tivoli who held up signs saying dem wi ded fi dudus looks like they are getting what they asked for. We need to get rid of the cancer called "garrisonS" starting with Tivoli! Tek the fight to dem mi seh.

Nadeen Robinson
5/25/2010

So what about the genuine love we should have for fellowman... like the children and women... I mourn today for the women and children that has perished in this war.

NIA ANDER
5/25/2010

What I do not understand is why Jamaica is being destroy over 1 man. The way some ppl call Mr. Coke such a hero, why can't he stop this turn himself in for what hero would sit back & watch the country in which he was born & raise be destroy over something that can be avioded, he's laid back seeing how many ppl in his own community are dyin smh. Now really is he a hero? Plus how do the police know that Mr Coke is in deed in Tivoli as we speak for he knew they would come into that community for him, so do you really think he would of stayed even tho he refuse to give himself up? Think about it.....

mark brown
5/25/2010

Mr. Jones let me ask you this... Do you think that all those people that was kill in Tivoli yesterday were trying to kill members of the security forces? Do you think it's okay to kill innocent people because the security forces need to do their JOB. those innocent life mean anything in Jamaica? Do you know the history of the Jamaica Security Forces? Do you think they are better then the Dudus and his friends. Do you think that this Country of United States would have kill women and kids alike... there own citizen for Jamaica? Are do you think the US would have send Dudus to Jamaica base on the information they themselves has on this man right now? Why the media do there own investigation into this matter and tell the Jamaican people the this country breach your country law and violated one your citizen right, because he is a bad man y'all look the other way. Do you know what power you give us here in the States. But we already have the power.

S D
5/25/2010

Good point Blindman. I guess the two administrations were either bedfellows or ignoring that fact for the sake of not having bloodshed.

lu gray
5/25/2010

this was a waste 26 people murdered for what? the guns are still out there, and more are still coming in the island and the primary objective not achieved.

eyan brown
5/25/2010

they need to catch this man and his gunmen friends, its time jamaica be free from these gunmen

Tracyann Miller
5/25/2010

It's a pity that the security forces did not have a couple Apache helicopters and gun boats so that they could attack from land, sea and air, simultaneously. These criminals needed to be dealt with in the most severe manner, and if you ask me, they are getting away too easily. They have a saying in Jamaica that goes like this - "fire de a mus mus tail and him tink a cool breeze." Someone should have warned these jackasses that the members of the Jamaican security forces are not afraid of them.

Warren Williams
5/25/2010

This is a challenging time for all. Its a sad day when we reach at this point in our country. We have to hold our leader at the highest level and make them more accountable.
This is the only way we can make a way better for the next generation.
Blessings

Winston Jones
5/25/2010

Common sense should tell people that thugs are not powerful enough to destroy anything. But corruption will…. A person like Dudus didn’t become powerful without the blessings and approval from the bigger heads. We always want to point the finger at the little fish and take the focus of off the bigger heads. To kill the beast you have to chop off the head and not the tail.

Contact Done
5/25/2010

Tun up de pressure so dat dem give up Dudus.
Civilians helping home-grown terrorists are terrorist themselves.
Only sorry seh good hafi suffa fi di bad.

zina brown
5/25/2010

Where are the entertainers to plead with Jamaica as a whole? Beenie Man, Twins of Twins, Cecil last time I check your songs were busting the internet and radio after the extradition was presented to the GOJ. Beenie Man especially you and other entertainers who through the years big this man up like he was king on the throne. Big up mi friend Super Cat.

Blind man
5/25/2010

So mek me ask a question or mek a statement. So if the us didn't ask for the extradition the government and people of ja with knowledge of what dudus does and is doing would have just went about business as usual huh. Each and every jamaican need to clean up their own back yard first then they can take on cleaning up people yard. Cause a long time the slackness a go on but it no affect you so u keep u mouth shut. Now u can't go downtown and open u business and u friend dem a get kill u want to talk. Point is, this should be the precedence for a new jamaica a twenty first century ja. Why is it that there are caves and tunnels which are called garisons in a small and beautiful island like Jamaica. We are too small for this to happen. It need to be controlled right away. Jamaica is so small that everything should be accounted for man, woman, child, animals and weapons and equipments. How police a sell bad man bullets how comes that no accounted for. Everyone should be accounted for

LLOYD BLAIR
5/25/2010

The closer you get to the nest the angrier the bees are, but as we know some bee dies after they sting.

Stephen Mclean
5/25/2010

Dudus needs to make it safely to trial in US so that he can spill the dirt on all the politicians he has secrets for. So they too can pay for their crimes.

Hotta Bhingi
5/25/2010

Unuh stay deh report dat dudus not caught, he is looking in the face of death.

Richie L
5/25/2010

The rat should be paraded around in his brief when they catch him so that the world can see what he is.
.
The coward caused so many unnecessary deaths. If you are so bad come out and give up your god damn self.
.
Richie

avid equin
5/25/2010

OPERATION RESTOREJAMAICA
Let us all salute and honour the three fallen members of the security forces who paid the ultimate price as well as the men and women who selflessly placed themselves as a wedge beween us and the barbarian horde and the anarchy choreographed by their political masters. We should erect a monument to these heroic fallen soldiers to perptuate the memory of their role and sacrifice in this epic battle between good and evil. Two officers automatically sprung to the defense of a threat against a female motorist only to be ambushed by gun-cowards. At a minimum we should commit to NEVER AGAIN allow the nonsense that passes for leadership and governance in this country to prevail and so utterly wreck our lives and futures. Going forward every one of us should actively dedicate ourselves to defend our beautiful green isle of the indies with every fibre of our being on the time-honoured principles of our heroes, anthem and pledges.

Antonette W.
5/25/2010

Not to be cynical but, he's probably at the same place as Bin Laden; never to be found.

JA Cynic
5/25/2010

It is not that Dudus is still at large, even though that is true. What is key is that given the sustained attack on the State, Dudus is still large--extra large.
JA Cynic

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'Dudus' still at large