By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Desmond McKenzie, JLP Councillor for Tivoli Gardens (left in background) and Paul Burke, the PNP's Region Three chairman, speak to residents from communities in the Mountain View Avenue area after they had demonstrated yesterday demanding an end to the shootings between rival gangs. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
RIVAL GUN gangs of Mountain View Avenue are to meet under bipartisan auspices in a bid to end the weeklong barrage of shootings which have crippled the area.
The impending negotiations have been prompted by demands by residents along the avenue and adjoining communities who yesterday declared that enough is enough, and demanded that the 'shottas' and the area dons that control the gunmen put a stop to the sporadic shootings.
In a prompt response, People's National Party (PNP) Region Three chairman, Paul Burke, and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor for the Tivoli Gardens Division, Desmond McKenzie, met and spoke with the residents from the adjoining communities. They said they would try to bring the gunmen together at the negotiating table to broker an end to the conflict.
CRIME WAVE CONTINUES
The shootings have continued despite the police presence in the area.
Caught in the middle of the gunfire being traded between warring factions, scores of the frustrated residents yesterday mounted a peaceful demonstration along Mountain View Avenue in the vicinity of Jacques Road, protesting the heavy barrage of shooting on-going for more than a week, which in some cases has prevented the movement of children to school and adults to work.
Both senior politicians toured the enclaves of the JLP and PNP strongholds. At one stage heavily armed members of the security forces had to position themselves as a buffer
to prevent a clash of rival political factions on Saunders Avenue.
After completing a tour of the Back Bush, McGregor Gully, and Jarrett Lane areas, Messrs. Burke and McKenzie told the residents, at a meeting at the Jacques Road community centre, that they would review plans to end the gun violence which intensified on election night, October 16.
"Everybody want the peace, but the residents from the communities involved are pointing fingers at each other," Councillor McKenzie said.
Mr. Burke said the next step was to get all the gunmen involved to participate in a roundtable meeting so that the differences can be sorted out.
It is understood that the meeting is tentatively set for sometime this week.
"When we are through, we are to invite members of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) to come in and talk with the people," Burke said.
"We cyan tek it nuh more, we waan de shot dem fe stop fire because we pickney dem cyaan go a school," said one women from a group in the Jacques Road community.
According to police reports, there were shootings up to Sunday morning.
"Yes, we have been having some shootings, but is from both sides," head of the Kingston East Police Division, Leon Rose, told a Gleaner news team during a tour of the area yesterday.
