By Glenroy Sinclair and Trudy Simpson, Gleaner Writers
Matthews Lane area leader Donald 'Zekes' Phipps.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES in the normally busy market area of Heywood Street, West Kingston, came to a halt yesterday morning, following a fierce gun battle between members of rival armed gangs from Tivoli Gardens and Matthews Lane.
The police, up to press time last night, confirmed that at least five persons were shot and injured.
Reports are that shortly after 11:00 a.m., groups of gunmen attempted to invade the Matthews Lane community, attacking from three points of entry. Shoppers and vendors quickly dashed for cover, while persons on their way to and from the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), were also forced to take evasive action.
Residents said the non-stop shooting lasted for more than 10 minutes, as heavily armed gunmen with high-powered rifles took turns shooting at each other, in scenes reminiscent of the Wild West.
The latest flare-up around the commercial district is not going down well with business interests, with several now calling on the authorities to act.
In an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, Steve Khemlani, managing director of Khemlani Mart, said the constant shutting down of business as a result of violence has been costing merchants millions of dollars in lost revenue. He said the two stores he operates on King Street have been having a tough time coping.
Mr. Khemlani's assertions regarding the impact of crime on business were supported on Tuesday by the Jamaica Conference Board's Survey of Business Confidence, which stated that "the increasing cost of crime continued to be cited as the number one problem facing the nation," despite a positive economic outlook by businesses.
Mr. Khemlani said the problem in the downtown Kingston area can only be solved by what he called having a strong political will, saying the time for 'lip service' had long passed. said the current violence is rooted in political agendas dating back 45 years. He said some politicians have chosen to divide the loyalties of persons along political party lines, believing that "the vote of the little man is more important than the dignity of the little man."
He added that the problem could not be solved without re-educating the people, giving them justice and relieving armed persons of their weapons.
Deputy Commissioner Lucius Thomas, the country's crime chief, described yesterday's shooting as nothing new. He confirmed that there have been several bouts of shooting between both factions, but stressed that the gang feud has not escalated.
"Men from both sides at times, try and cross over to attack the rival community," he said.
He said the police have instituted a number of measures to bring the killings and shootings to an end, adding that the police have put in place both preventative and strategic measures.
The Gleaner understands that the ongoing feud is related to the death of the nephew of Victor 'Rooster' Patterson, who defected to the Jamaica Labour Party stronghold of Tivoli Gardens more than two years ago.
ENFORCERS NOT INVOLVED
Since then there has been a breakaway faction from Matthews Lane, a People's National Party enclave, which received support from sections of Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town. The police have theorised that the core of Tivoli Gardens enforcers are not yet involved in the feud.
Yesterday, the relatives of Matthews Lane area don, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, dismissed reports that he was grazed by a bullet during the shooting.
"I spoke to him immediately after the rumour began spreading," one of Mr. Phipps' close relatives told The Gleaner.
