OVER the last few decades, Grant’s Pen in St Andrew has experienced many vicious gun wars and according to some elderly residents, the community is under threat of returning to those dark days.

The residents on Wednesday told the Jamaica Observer they trust that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will not allow those unwanted conditions to return to the community.

The area became slightly tense following the shooting death of 45-year-old businessman, Omar “Romie” Wright, by unknown assailants around 10:40 pm on June 7 on Shortwood Road in St Andrew.

Things, however, got tenser exactly one month later on July 7, following an early morning gun attack on dancehall entertainer Jahshii and members of his entourage, as they drove out from a party venue on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew. Six members of the group, who had earlier celebrated Jahshii’s 22nd birthday, were shot and injured by unknown assailants in the incident. Jahshii, who was in the pickup truck that was shot up, escaped unharmed.

Most of the members of the entourage were said to be residents of Grant’s Pen.

Since the shooting on Jahshii’s birthday, the elderly in the community have grown concerned about the tension that has developed.

One elderly man claimed that since the shooting outside the club, there has been “all guns out”, because people don’t know whom to trust.

“The bad vibes is building up again. We are upset. Every gun rise a night time. Everybody a consider what is going on.We just keeping our eyes open,” the man said.

Another male senior citizen claimed that the entire community is tense and has been regularly visited by the police since the incident outside the club.

“The whole place tense and we don’t know what is happening. Every minute police come around here to walk around and search,” he said.

One woman lamented that Jahshii’s relatives have not been able to enjoy peace of mind in the comfort of their homes due to what has been happening.

Another elderly man who was also perturbed by the recent happenings, said he was concerned Grant’s Pen could become “a war zone like Haiti”.

“We don’t want to live like we are in Haiti. We want the place to come back to what it is supposed to be. The good thing is that I don’t think this can mash up the place, still. The police are not going to allow it. Based on what things were like in the past, they won’t allow it to go back there.”

Other people harboured fear that Grant’s Pen could be put under a curfew.

“We can’t bother with knowing that by six o’clock come in Grant’s Pen, you have to lock up and gone. Dem time deh done,” he said, while his friend recalled how Grant’s Pen experienced “some wicked times”.

The friend added, “You hear how the place is quiet, if the war starts, you won’t believe. They are some dangerous people.”