ACCORDING to police data, more than 20 people have been killed in the deadly tit-for-tat conflict that has brought pain and sorrow to the neighbouring Tredegar Park and Gravel Heights communities in St Catherine over the past five years.

The trail of blood and death has been particularly heart-wrenching for Hyacinth Rochester, principal of Tredegar Park All-Age School, who says that many of those killed were her students.

“I have been a teacher in the area for 16 years, and to see so many of my students getting caught in this never-ending conflict it is sad,” Rochester told the Sunday Observer last week.

“I have almost lost count of the number of people that would have fallen victim to conflict,” she added. “Many of the young men, women and even children killed in the attacks [over the years] attended the school.”

Police have blamed the Klansman and One Order gangs for the ongoing violence, not just in Tredegar Park and Gravel Heights but in other communities close by.

The Klansman Gang, which is aligned to the Opposition People’s National Party, and the One Order Gang, which is linked to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, have been engaged in deadly feuds for turf, mostly in Spanish Town, for years.

Police say the latest act of bloodshed — the August 13 massacre of eight persons in Tredegar Park — was committed by about 20 members of the Klansman Gang.

News of the brutal slaying of siblings Alexifia Anderson, 11; Nekfifa Anderson, 23; Joel Anderson; and their mother Hopelin Dennis, 43, as well as Eldon Heron, 60; his son, Eldon Heron Jnr, 38; Gary Stewart, 22; and Orrett Miller, 26 shocked the country and plunged Tredegar Park into another dark period of mourning.

Children have been particularly hard hit by the violence. According to education ministry data, close to 700 students were enrolled at Tredegar Park All-Age School. However, due to the conflict over the years the number has reduced to below 500.

Last week, one school official said that since the recent violent upsurge only 19 children had enrolled for grade one classes.

“It cannot continue like this, it has to stop,” Rochester said, unable to conceal her anger.

Added one school official, who asked not to be named: “This is like a never-ending story. I’m hoping and praying things will change.”

Whether her prayer will be answered is left to be seen. For now, police and soldiers continue to patrol the community, providing some hope to those residents who opted not to flee.