Shut up! Adams tells Seaga

BY ERICA VIRTUE Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, May 31, 2010

CONTROVERSIAL and verbose former Senior Police Superintendent Reneto Adams last week strongly recommended silence for former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who has come out swinging against the government and military operations into Tivoli Gardens, a community that he built in the 1960s and which became the centrepiece of his and the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP's) political support for more than four decades.

Adams, who crossed path with Seaga on several occasions during his 41 years as a police officer, and who had either led or was apart of security operations in the community, called Seaga a hypocrite.

"For Mr Seaga to have come out and speak as strongly as he did, about the disruption and dislocation in Tivoli Gardens, I want to say that it is highly hypocritical...", the outspoken retired crime fighter said, minutes after he concluded the keynote address at the Rotary Club of Kingston luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last week.

In a stinging broadside against the JLP, and Prime Minister Bruce Golding, his former protégé, Seaga again defended the residents of Tivoli Gardens and said that a massacre had taken place in the community.

He put the death toll at 125, instead of the 73 given by security officials, based on information he claimed to have received from the community. Charging, too, that bodies had been buried as part of a cover-up, based on information he received, Seaga accused Prime Minister Golding of ineptitude.

Adams in 2001 led a police and military team in the community, to ward off a planned attack on Wilton Gardens (Rema) which had suffered more than 100 casualties at the hands of Tivoli Gardens gunmen over the years, with some last week, showing the scars of what they say was Tivoli brutality.

After the four-day standoff in 2001, 27 persons were killed, including security personnel, and Adams crypitically warned then that "Jamaica would pay dearly, dearly, dearly" for the fortification of the community, which has used strong-arm tactics to maintain political support for the JLP in the Corporate Area.

The community is currently under occupation by members of the security forces led by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) who are in search of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who was indicted last August by the United States on drug and gun-running charges.

The 80-year-old Seaga, who relinquished the helm of the JLP in 2005 to Golding, emerged from political hibernation after retirement to academia, in a combative mood which belied his advanced years.

According to Adams, Seaga "nurtured this location, this environment and these people, to the extent that the security forces under a JLP government could not bear the onslaught anymore, that they had to put the police and the army to deal with it in a most effective and efficient way."

"Dare I say, Seaga has only himself to blame..." said Adams.

"I would recommend that instead of criticising, he goes in and try to reorient the people, on a line of decent and civil living. That is the recommendation I would give him," he said.

For its part the JLP has offered no official response to the former leader's charge that the party was split down the middle. However, the party has been distributing an audio of Seaga, responding to a question about "Jim Brown" (real name, Lester Lloyd Coke) the father of Christopher Coke, and who was the leader of the criminal Shower Posse, which was inherited by his son, Dudus.

The audio received on Saturday from a JLP operative quotes Seaga saying that Jim Brown was a protector of the community.

"Look at the man in terms of how the community respect and treats him as a protector of the community," Seaga's voice was heard saying, to loud roars in the background.

But Jim Brown's notoriety spread way beyond Jamaica's shores and the Shower Posse, which he led, and to which more than 1,400 deaths in the United States has been attributed.

The elder Coke died in a mysterious fire while in custody awaiting extradition to the United States.

Not known for tact, South West St Catherine Member of Parliament Everald Warmington has recommended that Seaga go quietly, somewhere, even as he described him as "a bitter old man".

Seaga, who is now a distinguished fellow at the University of the West Indies, has been consistent in his criticisms of Golding's leadership capabilities, describing his departure to the NDM as not a problem.

"It is mischievous for Seaga to be saying that Bruce should have gone in there and defended the people. The prime minister of the land with all of the advisors came to the conclusion that it was necessary to go in there and get criminal gunmen. I want to say to Mr Seaga that it is unwise and unprofessional for him to be criticisng the prime minister in such a fashion," Adams said.

He said it was uncharacteristic for governing parties to have this kind of offensive into communities that are their political strongholds, but it was apparent that their backs were now against the wall.

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COMMENTS (27)

Yard Vibz
5/31/2010

Mr Francis, I don't know who you are but after reading all the comments, it is safe to conclude that you're indeed the one-eyed man amongst the blind. For that, I say 'nuff respect' brethren because through your utterances, you have separated yourself from the unjust. Peace!

norris Richards
5/31/2010

With all this accusation flying around, Mr. Seaga comes out of this smelling like a rose. He is the only leader who gave the police force the names of trouble makers in his constituency, including the name of Mr. Coke. The police did nothing they were waiting on, Mr. Seaga to also arrest the trouble makers. PJ the greatest PM, for Mr. Seaga critics, with Mr. Adam on his team failed to arrest the trouble makers the politicians and their Dons in Kingston.
Now Mr. Adam seems to know all the right things, he is the biggest hypocrite of all, he knew all along that the politicians and Dons were using the poor, uneducated and gullible youths to enforce criminal acts, with all this information he killed more youths than anyone else. How is he reconciling what he knew and did then to his makeover image now?
All this venom been thrown at the Mr. Seaga you can called it jealousy, his constituency turnout to be the best organized, compare to the others in Kingston. He is the only PM to have grown the Jamaica’s economy significantly since independence. Unfortunately it is very difficult to find one senior leader in Jamaica who had manager their department successfully since independence with exception recently the contractor general and custom departments.
Ironically Mr. Seaga not is in charge of the country for over 20 years since then you have PJ, Mama P and Mr. Golding, it is dishonest for his distracters are blaming him for the disgrace that happen in TG, It seems if one is successful in Jamaica the more critics there are. The problem here is some powerful people wants to bring down TG to the lowest denominator

Danavan smith
5/31/2010

Mr seaga it's time you free the mind of the people of TG , for 40 you been a MP for that constituency and all i see is poverty and crimes, if this is your model community?well i give thank to god you never expand, else is not dudus would be running from the police but rather the wider society would be running from dudus and his force.

Anthony Johnson
5/31/2010

The lies and disrespect in our society continues. Even though Adams clearly objected to what Seaga said, there is no where in this article where he said "SHUT UP!" But the dirty nastiness of the writers in the observer continues. Their show of disrespect is similar to how other blacks treat blacks in the Jamaican society, from the arrogant and dunce policemen to the illiterate and uneducated cashiers in some companies. I don"t expect better from the Observer though.

anguish of being
5/31/2010

Again, Adams for PM!

rain James
5/31/2010

Maude, The elderly getting help with their medication was instituted under the former PNP government when the National Health Fund and JADEP were instituted. PATH was also established under the PNP to help the poor. Get your facts straight.
Bruce and Eddie are cut off the same cloth. No better barrel no better herring.They both have defended Tivoli. Vindication for Reneto, he did warn this would happen and many including JFJ trashed him and called him a mad man.

Richard Edwards
5/31/2010

Seaga might hate Adams and vice versa, but to be honest I strongly believe that Adams knows what he is talking about. I too am not a big fan of Adams tactics, but that does not mean he cannot shed light on the criminal alliance between politicians and criminals. Mr Seaga can continue live in a state of denial all he wants, but that does not change the fact that some politicans in Jamaica are more involved in crime than in politics, and if you are me that is the crux of the problem in Jamaica.

alfred alexander
5/31/2010

what cruelty to the people of tivoli and the numerous other garrison communities,created,nurtured and supported by politicians and their rich upper class associates,who encourage ruthless men to hold majority of the decent people hostage in order to advance their selfish agendas. when these ruthless men become too large then the police is called in to do the ruling classes dirty work at the peril of majority decent folks.not just the garrisons but the ruling class need to be purged.shamefull.

San Patrek
5/31/2010

I think its opportune time for a peace and reconciliation commission. A process of healing and transformation needs to take place following the events of recent days. It should begin with an amnesty to all gunmen to turn in their arms. All MPs should be made to renounce ties to dons, gunmen and garrisons. A coalition of businessmen, religious leaders, teachers, medics and citizens in each former garrison should be established to chart way ahead for reintegration and normalisation.

Leslie George
5/31/2010

I've read this article carefully and don't see where Adams is quoted anywhere telling Seaga to shut up.
Why was that headline felt to be necessary ? isn't the level of public discourse in Jamaica coarse enough already ?

Dorlan H. Francis
5/31/2010

Adams should SHUT his mouth too. If he was a fair and balanced crime fighter crime would not have increased exponentially when he was head of the Crime management Unit. He was sent to Spanish Town to get Bulbie. Did he get him after 10 years? He got Jackie, he got Andrew Phang and all the Dons in JLP areas. Yet crime went UP. Its is people like Adams why our country is in a deep pile of excrement it is in. He should SHUT is d..n mouth too.Four Ps let down Jamaica Politicians, Police, Press Pason

Chris Benji
5/31/2010

Adams
Well said.

Lloyd Coulson
5/31/2010

Seaga should keep is mouth, cause didn't he use to be part of the same party, that he is he is now slagging off. What seaga has done is made the situation worse now. He should of just kept quite and try and make communities come together, by seaga making them comments he is now pulling communities apart not bring them together

Steve Allen
5/31/2010

We have to back Primeminister Golding 100 % for the job he has done. We need to clean out all of the criminal elements in Jamaica , where ever they are. I am sick and tired of all the criminal elements that have been running Jamaica for all those years.
The Jamaican police and Army must not stop until they find every illegal gun and gunmen and take them out and let our country becomes the paradise is use to be and not the laughing stock of the world. Jamaicans are the sweetest people in the WI

L S
5/31/2010

Danavan Smith, thats the perfect description of Mr. Seaga; his kids can do no wrong! He is still in disbelief that his model community is a failure. It is best to dismantle the whole place and convert that area into commercial and relocate those people. If they stick together with the same type of leadership a new don springing up; we will have a repeat of the current situation. Thats a harsh reality that many will criticize but thats the truth some dont want to face or suggest.

A. Croft
5/31/2010

It seems as if Seaga is saying that Tivolites are the "children" and dudus is the "dad." Well he took his social studies a little too far by personification of the characters. Why didn't he put social service offices in the neighbourhood to answer the residents's questions and give them the needed guidance? Answer: He wanted to secure votes.
He used Jamaica to enrich himself while holding the people in place. He did not embark on nation building hence Jamaica made no remarkable progress.

Maude Cooper
5/31/2010

A little history. In 1974 when The Hon, Michael Manley saw most of the revenue from the bauxite company went overseas, he imposed a 7.5 % bauxite levy for the benefit of Jamaica and its people….in the 80’s, Seaga's fortunes slumped in large part because he lost US support when he was unable to deliver on his early promises of removing the bauxite levy that Mr. Manley had put in place. Who was the better man here I ask?

Maude Cooper
5/31/2010

Myself have asked for the PM to quit, but I am sure that he is a much better PM than Seaga ever was. I have seen poor people getting help with their prescription, which never happened before in Jamaica, and these are people living in other parts of the island not just in TG.

Danavan smith
5/31/2010

Seaga is like some parents with with bad kids who can never do wrongs, dont matter if you even catch them in the acts, he will fine an excuse for them and paint you as the bad one, and his kids the victims, it is full time seaga owen up to his mistake, TG WAS A FAILURE

Hotta Bhingi
5/31/2010

Adams, however knows waht he is saying, but he should not be afraid to say both Golding and Seaga have helped to make TG what it is. None are innocent. Golding is just realising that his political life is on the line, and probably will have to answer charges of aiding Coke, with state funds, by giving him contracts and possibly hiring MPP to seek an overturn of the extradition request. No better barrel, no better herring. Bruce and Edward are hyprocrits and their likes should neva si Ja house.

Jaye Stone
5/31/2010

Seaga needed to have been castigated long ago for the part he played in creating the Tivoli leviathan.

Claude Ingram
5/31/2010

Mr Adams is right; If Mr Seaga (the former Prime Minister), cannot restrain himself, then he should be directing his criticisms at the Government as a whole and not at the PM. This behaviour is un-statesmanlike and he should apologise. Furthermore, he should be offering his services to the security forces to find any tunnels and escape routes that are rumoured to exist in TG and where any weapons might be stored so they can be put beyond use. After all he created the damn place.

David Armstrong
5/31/2010

I don't know if Mr. Adams has a political axe to grind but his comments about Mr. Seaga cannot be taken lightly. Mr. Seaga certainly cannot act as if he has not contributed to the lawlessness and corruption that has been associated with Tivoli Gardens. The problems of dons in TG did not start with Dudus and did not happen overnight. If he is going to blame anyone he should first start with himself.

george watson
5/31/2010

If Mr. Adams had been allowed to clean up the mess in 2001 maybe TG would be along the way to decency. Instead he was villified by Mr. Seaga and the JLP and even the poor commisioner who had made a name for himsef in Canada as a respected jurist had his name drawn through the mud before he even got here.
Mr. Seaga has much to give account for and it would suit him to apologize to the nation rather than to continue to make trouble.
Whatever good he has done has been overwhelmed by bad.

twote wretched
5/31/2010

Reneto Adam s Walks On Water. We miss you brother.

Alvin L.
5/31/2010

Mr Adams and other high ranking members of the police Department knows what both parties were doing to provide cover for the political hoodlums!
We hope those days are over now because the other established countries will be watching how we govern, police and project our image to the world. We can either be considered a "failed state" "renegade state" or a progressive part of the human experience.
It is evident that every Nation has it's problems but Jamaica's Government coddles criminals !

Brooklyn Jamaican
5/31/2010

Talk di tings dem

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Shut up! Adams tells Seaga