HEAVILY ARMED gunmen invaded a section of the Jamaica Labour Party stronghold of Denham Town, West Kingston, early yesterday morning and fire-bombed three houses.
Prior to that, the gunmen kicked open the doors of two other houses and robbed the occupants of electrical appliances, including television sets and refrigerators.
Lorna Leslie, Councillor for Denham Town Division, said that at least 15 persons are now homeless, following the pre-dawn fire-bombing and reported cases of looting.
"One family packed their things into a truck and moved out," said Ms. Leslie.
Fearful residents, who live close to the political borderline on Greenwich Street, which separates the JLP stronghold from the PNP stronghold of Wilton Gardens (Rema), have abandoned their homes because of sporadic shootings.
As tension mounted in the area, residents said they had to be keeping vigil because of threats that gunmen from Rema would be returning to loot and burn more houses.
The affected area is known as 'Reggae Villa' and is located in Victoria, Greenwich and Elgin streets. Three years ago, houses located in this vicinity on Race Course Lane were abandoned after gun violence forced hundreds of residents to relocate.
Each time there is a flare-up between rival factions from the communities, people living in the vicinity are targeted.
Gunshots rang out in the community again yesterday afternoon, prior to the arrival of Bishop Herro Blair, Political Ombudsman and chairman of the Peace Management Initiative, who toured sections of the troubled communities.
During the presence of a Gleaner news team, there was gunfire mainly in Greenwich Street and the Race Course Lane area. At one stage, a Jamaica Defence Force V-150 armoured personnel carrier was seen driving along Race Course Lane, towards Rema, but seconds later, it was seen retreating into Denham Town under heavy gunfire from the direction of Rema.
"I spoke with the people from Wilton Gardens, Denham Town and Hannah Town. I have proposed to meet with the respective area leaders at a mutual venue," Bishop Blair told The Gleaner yesterday.
