- Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer
Soldiers busy on Tuesday clearing open lots and bulldozing derelict buildings in sections of West Kingston.
Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
ALICIA WATSON is a resident of the volatile Hannah Town community in West Kingston.
The 21-year-old has lived in this neighbourhood all her life. Over the years, Miss Watson and many other residents in the area have had an uneasy relationship with members of the security forces, bordering on hatred, sometimes.
Today all this has changed.
The painful memories of bitter confrontations between lawmen and citizens of Hannah Town are slowly disappearing, like the derelict buildings and overgrown bushes in the community.
The area has received a facelift.
Residents and members of the security forces are working together to build a better community.
Six months ago residents were high on alert as rival gangs peppered the area with gunshots.
"Right now we don't mind the soldiers and the curfew, because we feel much safer," said Miss Watson. "The only problem is that you have a few bad soldiers who come and want to pressure the youths. Apart from that, the majority of the soldiers are nice. If you ask them for anything you get it. They even share their lunch with the residents."
Curfews have been imposed in the communities of Tavares Gardens and Hannah Town since November 29 last year. Up to yesterday, the lawmen were still there.
A group of women at the intersection of Oxford and Hannah streets told The Gleaner yesterday that the presence of the security forces was responsible for them enjoying one of their finest Christmas in many years.
"The soldiers make us feel good during the Christmas. They gave us Christmas work and pay us. They even keep treat for the young and elderly. The children got toys and books, while the adults got groceries," one woman said.
Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) officer Captain Milton Edwards said the JDF has put in place a Civil Liaison Team to establish a link with residents and see how best they can help them. The team's mission is to tackle the social ills of the community.
"In collaboration with the government, we employed over 200 persons during the Christmas and paid out over $260,000 to residents who cleaned up and beautified the community," said Captain Edwards.
Next Tuesday, the JDF, with assistance from other agencies, will begin the second phase of the mission, implementing a home work project targeting students preparing for the GSAT examinations.
According to Captain Edwards, residents may soon be able to benefit from a programme under which they will receive loans to start their own business.
