Andrew 'Bunman' Hope (centre), reputed area leader of Ellerslie Pen in Spanish Town , St. Catherine, being escorted out of the community yesterday by Detective Divisional Inspector Derrick Champagnie (right) and Detective Sgt. Fitz Richard (left) of the Spanish Town Police Station, yesterday. Hope was taken in for questioning in connection with the ongoing gang feud in the Old Capital, but was later released.
Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
OLIVE NICHOLSON has experienced a lot of sorrow in her 65 years, including the loss of three sons to violence and two daughters to illness.
Last week, this ghetto mother made yet another painful entry in her 'diary' when she and her family were forced to leave her home in Tawes Pen, Spanish Town.
'Miss Olive', as she is known throughout Tawes Pen and neighbouring Ellerslie Pen, took flight from the two-bedroom home she has lived in for 25 years. She says on January 22, gunmen from Ellerslie Pen told her to leave the area.
"Dem sen' dem fren fi tell mi fi leave so wi leave from Saturday 'cause a pure gunshot start bus'," 'Miss Olive' told The Sunday Gleaner by telephone last week.
She also left behind the shop she has operated for over 20 years and furniture, she says, has since been damaged.
SUCCESSION FEUD
Ms. Nicholson is the mother of Paul 'Chicken' Bell, the reputed area leader of Tawes Pen.
'Chicken', according to Spanish Town police, is involved in a feud with an Ellerslie Pen faction over who should succeed the late Oliver 'Bubba' Smith as leader of the One Order gang, a conglomerate of Spanish Town thugs with allegiance to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party.
The Spanish Town police say 'Chicken' is keen on his brother Lenford 'Satta John' Campbell taking over once he completes a lengthy prison sentence, probably this year.
'Satta John', who is 'Miss Olive's' second child and eldest son, was imprisoned for murder 25 years ago. Around the same period, she lost two of her sons, Nigel and Robert Bell, to violence. Another son, Christopher Nicholson is currently serving a 45-year prison term.
Meanwhile 'Chicken' has flown the Tawes Pen community, following the upsurge of shooting which began about three weeks ago.
TOUGH LIFE
Allegations are that he has found a comfortable home in West Kingston.
"Mi feel safe where mi is right now but mi nuh feel good inna miself 'cause mi nuh create nuh violence," she said. "All the violence come from Ellerslie Pen."
'Miss Olive' says she was born at Maxfield Avenue in Kingston but spent most of her life in Spanish Town where her 16 children were born.
Three of her sons, Nigel, Charles and Pat, were victims of the gun violence that has affected Spanish Town for many years.
She lost 'Satta John' to prison in 1979 the same year she got one of the low-income homes in the Tawes Pen high-rise complex.
CLOSED CHAPTER
Reflecting on her life, 'Miss Olive' says it has not been a joy ride. "Is a rough, rough life...if it wasn't fi prayer mi wouldn't dey yah now," she said with a sigh.
One day after she left Tawes Pen, a section of Ellerslie Pen was invaded by gunmen who were reportedly dressed in police apparel.
Three persons were killed and six others, including two young girls, injured.
As much as she misses Tawes Pen, Miss Olive does not see herself returning anytime soon. For now, she has closed that chapter of her diary.
