The barricades which were established by law-breakers around Tivoli Gardens recently were not only an attempt to prevent the security forces from arresting Christopher “Dudus” Coke, but also an act of revenge against policemen and soldiers for the brutality they carried out against the community over many years. The most infamous of these attacks before the recent deadly incursion in West Kingston in which 73 people died – the vast majority in Tivoli Gardens – occurred in 2001 when 25 people were killed by the security forces.

Stories of acts of atrocity during the recent invasion continue to come out of Tivoli Gardens. Some of the stories are no doubt exaggerated, but most are believable and there is evidence to support these which will come out in the inquiry set up by the government. A small section of the population in Tivoli Gardens are saying that they want back their don (Coke). However, they should realise that Coke’s fiefdom is finished, even if he is not caught and extradited to the United States. It is time for a change in the way Tivoli Gardens is ruled. There is clear indication that the government intends to dismantle garrisons and gangs in the country. Nearly all the dons across the country have been called in by the police for questioning and most have responded.

Tivoli Gardens existed like a state in itself and benevolently ruled by Coke as “president”. This is not right. Police and soldiers must be able to carry out their duties without hindrance or fear. Everyone must have free access to the community and places like Hannah Town, Denham Town and Rema. Building barricades manned by armed men was wrong. According to reports, the attack by the security forces was far from “surgical” but relentless, with no respect for lives.

Tivoli Gardens was always a fearful place to visit, and all strangers are viewed with suspicion. While working as press secretary at Jamaica House during the administration of Prime Minister Edward Seaga in the 1980s, fighting back fear, I gave my secretary who lived in Tivoli a ride home at a time when the community was bracing for an attack. She advised me to drive slowly in the community. But there were other times when I frequently refereed football at the community centre, because other referees were afraid go there, or worked alongside Superintendent Barry Cross (later Assistant Commissioner) in an effort to build a lasting peace in West Kingston. Following the signing of the peace treaty in the 1970s, there was no feeling of insecurity.

Coke was able to get a solid footing because of the neglect of Tivoli Gardens during the more than 18 years of the PNP administration. Unemployment increased, many children were unable to go to school and there was a rise in the level of poverty in which many people were trapped. There was a time when anyone living in Tivoli Gardens dared not give their address when applying for a job in government or the private sector. The likelihood of getting the job was rather slim. In a way, governments and society helped create community leaders like Coke who assumed the role of saviour to a suffering people – even if some of his activities were illegal.

This column has repeatedly pointed out that no matter how many people living in places like Tivoli Gardens, Hannah Town, Denham Town and Arnett Gardens are killed by the security forces and no matter how harsh the measures employed by them to destroy the community, the people are going to find a way to survive unless the state intervenes with employment and social programmes. If not, the way to survive is to show allegiance to the dons.

In 1977 when ghetto gang leaders in Kingston and St Andrew formed the Central Peace Council, the peace treaty signed by them held for a while, but idleness and lack of sufficient social assistance weakened it. Although the private sector started a fund to support the movement, this was not enough. Soon, crime and discontentment returned to Kingston and St Andrew, and the police went into action. All the members of the Central Peace Council, except one, Louise Fraser, were either killed by the police or by other gang members. And the killings have since increased.

The future

There are many law-abiding, educated citizens living in Tivoli Gardens. The people should replace the don by electing a community council headed by a chairman. The police should have an ex-officio member of the council. That police representative should be in the officer rank. There should also be representatives of the Social Development Commission and the church, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica. The police representative should have leadership qualities and be sympathetic to the plight of the people, like Barry Cross did. One police officer that comes to mind is Assistant Commissioner Leon Rose, who is in charge of the Mobile Reserve with whom I worked for many years as director of media relations in the police force.

The council should participate in the formulation of plans for the community. Similar community councils could be established across the island. Government should not just push programmes down the throats of the people. People have a right to participate in the development of any plan to be put in place.