SEVERAL STREETS in Central Kingston remained solidly blocked with old car chassis, tree trunks and other debris late last night despite reports of a truce between warring factions allied to the People's National Party from Central and Western Kingston.
The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) confirmed that Charles, Hanover, James and Wildman Streets were blocked, while all minor roads between the upper and lower sections of East Queen Street and Charles Street were also impassable to vehicular traffic.
According to the police, several attempts have been made to clear the roadblocks but as soon as they left the barriers were replaced by residents who say they are protecting their communities from drive-by shootings.
One policeman in the area reported that the security forces came under heavy gunfire as they tried to clear a roadblock along Hanover Street.
Several business places have either shutdown altogether or curtailed business hours. Among them, the National Land Agency advised its clients and the public yesterday that its Land Titles and Surveys & Mapping Divisions would be closed until further notice because of the roadblocks.
Residents from warring communities of Tel-Aviv in Central Kingston and Matthews Lane in Western Kingston met with Member of Parliament Ronald Thwaites, chairman of the PNP's Region Three, Paul Burke and other ranking members of the People's National Party including Tourism Minister Portia Simpson Miller, as they sought to settle the dispute that has reportedly claimed at least five lives.
The PNP strongholds of Matthews Lane and Tel-Aviv which have been involved in a gang war over the last six days agreed to the truce during a meeting in a neutral area in Central Kingston yesterday and agreed not to apply vigilante justice to avenge the murder of a Tel Aviv resident.
The parties agreed to clear all the roadblocks with the assistance of Metropolitan Parks and Markets (MPM) and to replace the drainage covers which were removed all over Central Kingston.
