PHOTOS BY NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Police officers stand guard on Bryden Street, as residents flee to safety after four persons were
murdered in the community yesterday.
Robert Lalah
and Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writers
THE BELEAGUERED community of March Pen Road in Spanish Town, St. Catherine was yesterday plunged into a state of anarchy, as a heated hour-long gun battle between lawmen and armed thugs, sent residents
scurrying and cowering in fear.
Police reports are that about 8:30 a.m., they responded to calls about incessant gunfire coming from 76 March Pen Road, commonly known as Big Tree. The police party that went to the area was met by a group of about 20 scantily clad men, armed with several AK47 and M16 rifles. The gunmen fired on the police party and the fire was returned. As the gun battle proceeded, the lawmen found themselves overpowered and outnumbered, and were forced to call for back up. On the arrival of a police armoured personnel carrier, the gunmen retreated.
Residents say the perennial violence in the area, which involves persons with allegiances to rivalling political factions, has got particularly worse in recent weeks.
Distraught residents yesterday related a tale of savagery at its worst. They said two young children who dared to venture into enemy territory on their way to school on Friday, were sent running for their lives, after gunmen fired upon them with powerful artillery. The gunmen sent the children away with a simple message, "Nuh come back up yah so." The children were not harmed.
Hours after yesterday's gun battle, residents of the area slowly ventured from the relative safety of their homes with forlorn expressions on their faces. One woman with whom The Sunday Gleaner spoke, said she has been unable to leave the community for over a week. "Di man dem who control di exit nah go allow mi fi leave. Anyhow dem even see wi, dem ago kill we. Mi hungry from Tuesday and caan get nuh food. Di one shop down here a run out a food. It nuh nice roun' here," said the woman with an obvious note of despair in her voice.
Rotting tree branches, discarded appliances and rust-covered drums were used to block March Pen Road at several points yesterday, an indication by residents from each side of the community, attempting to prevent an attack from their rivals. One woman said the situation has taken a particularly brutal turn. She said the gunmen have started to prey upon the elderly, in a calculated attempt to send the strongest possible message to their enemies.
In response to allegations, made by some residents, that the police have been taking sides, Detective Inspector Derrick Champagnie, of the Spanish Town Police, said whenever police officers intervene in a community where there is a rivalry, they (the police) will be accused of taking sides. He said that the police will be maintaining a presence in the March Pen area.
