Following news that the murder convictions of dancehall artiste Adidja “Vybz Kartel” Palmer and his three co-accused were quashed by the Privy Council, a number of residents from the entertainer’s community, known as ‘Gaza City’, in Waterford, St Catherine, have said that Jamaica should remain with the British court instead of having the Caribbean Court of Justice adjudicate on criminal matters.

The Privy Council on Thursday ruled that the convictions of Palmer, fellow entertainer Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John should be quashed on the ground of jury misconduct and that “the question whether there should be a retrial should be remitted to the Court of Appeal of Jamaica”.

The decision was greeted with celebration by residents of the community, as they believed that the men would all be released.

“Mek it stay weh it deh. Mi think it better because Jamaica never give him [Palmer] a chance…it’s the best thing me see,” a man, who gave his name as Bling, told the Jamaica Observer in relation to the Privy Council.

“The system always corrupt,” he charged.

His comments were supported by another man, who gave his name only as Christopher and who said he was 50 years old.

“Anything different from Jamaica better fi we out here, because Jamaican system corrupt. We cyaan have a better Jamaica unless the Government system change, or the police force change,” he said.

A 37-year-old woman, who gave her name as Tia. agreed. She also argued that people from other Caribbean nations can be very “biased towards Jamaicans”.

In April 2014 the men were sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in the August 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams.

Many had argued that significant portions of the 64-day trial of the four men violated their constitutional rights, resulting in an unjust trial. Despite their appeal to the Court of Appeal three years later, their convictions were upheld. However, they were later granted permission to present their case before the Privy Council.

The appellants, on February 14 and 15, 2024, presented arguments questioning whether trial judge Lennox Campbell should have admitted telecommunication evidence, obtained in a manner allegedly violating Palmer’s constitutional right to privacy, into the trial. Another ground for appeal was the judge’s decision to not dismiss the jury or the accused juror following allegations of attempted bribery.

The appellants also asserted that the jury experienced unwarranted pressure to reach a verdict, despite the forewoman previously informing the judge on the same day of their inability to achieve unanimity.

Nevertheless, the residents were overjoyed as they said that Palmer empowered and contributed to the development of the community, with the majority of them saying that he would oftentimes assist students with supplies for school.

“Me can testify to that. He caters for both youths and elders, mostly. He helped me personally because I’m a producer and mi give thanks fi dat,” said Garfield Francis.

Tia interjected, “The community get a lot of recognition” [because of his fame].

“The stadium is there, he helped with the stadium right there,” she added, referencing the recreational field in the community. “He has done a lot of good things.”

“The Gaza now, comparing to what it was before, is nothing, because once when you come on the Gaza you could look for a lot of excitement, things happening. As you can see, everything is at a standstill. Sometimes the youths would be doing dem little jerk chicken, and [now] you don’t see any jerk things around,” the mother of four said.

Another woman who goes by the name Gaza Michelle said Palmer helped Waterford Primary School on a number of occasions.

“He do a lot at Waterford Primary School; him buy a lot of laptop, him contributed to the school, him build the fence so that they can have their sports. He is so amazing, he is so kind to the elder people dem. I am truly looking forward to him coming out. The people dem, they are crying a lot of tears for him to come out… I got a dream from my mother, my mother told me he is going to be freed,” she said, adding that her mother died four years ago.

The trial had heard that Williams was allegedly killed by the men after he reportedly failed to return two unlicensed guns, which were reportedly given to him for safekeeping by Palmer. The deceased as not been heard or seen from since.