Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas disclosed yesterday that the security forces will be concentrating their resources over the next three months in the hotbed of Rock-fort, east Kingston.

Reports are that the seven persons who were killed Friday morning - four women, including two teenagers, one man, a nine-year-old boy, and a four month-old baby girl were all innocent victims.

bloody gang feud

It is alleged that at least five of the victims were slaughtered because their relatives or family members were involved in a bloody internal gang feud, which has transformed sections of the community into a ghost town. Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner yesterday, an influential person, who is a part of the leadership of the community, explained that all the men who are now involved in the bloodletting were friends a year ago.

mediation programmes

"Last year, the leadership of the community spent thousands of dollars on several mediation programmes, where the same factions were taught how to deal with conflicts," said the influential person, who spoke on terms of anonymity.

The community leader further explained that at the end of the mediation programmes, all the participants were taken on a trip for a fun day.

"All the participants were given spending money for the day, plus they were allowed to take their spouses. By then, the community was calm again, but the peace did not last for a month," the leader said.

People were still hurting and the wounds of past conflicts were yet to be healed. There were sporadic incidents, but things took a turn for the worst last year when the 'Hundred Link Posse' got dismantled.Residents said some went t themselves with the foundation elders, while some, who went to jail and returned, wants to take control of sections of the community. The Sunday Gleaner further understands that it was the death of a taxi driver that cause the men to be separated. Allegations are that between last December and January, a taxi operator was held up, robbed and killed. His body was then buried in a shallow grave. A group of men were upset abut this act, and consequently chased away those who were involved in the killing of the taxi operator.

It is alleged that it is these two groups who are now fighting. The younger group of men are objecting to the wishes of the older men to take control of their territory. Since last year, the fight over turf control has intensified.

Reports are that things have become so bad that one woman was raped. Residents say this is something that never usually happen in the community.

Meantime, the police reported yesterday that two men wanted for questioning in the shooting turned themselves in.