Coroners remove one of three bodies found in a home along Felicity Crescent, popularly known as Blood Lane, Montego Bay. - Monique Hepburn Photo
WESTERN BUREAU:
AFTER BEING relatively calm within recent months, Montego Bay's volatile Felicity Crescent, popularly known as Blood Lane, was propelled back into the news this week with the western city's first triple murder since the start of the year.
The gangland-style gun attack, which left brothers Fenel and Derrick Taylor and a young dreadlock woman dead, evoked bitter memories of 2004 when the geographical area in which Blood Lane is located was virtually crippled by gang violence, resulting in over 80 per cent of the then record 126 murders committed in St. James that year.
"We used to have up to six murders in one week," said Monica Brooks, an unemployed woman from the community. "Hardly a day used to past without some shooting taking place in the area."
HARD FACTS OF LIFE
The frequent blood-letting in the community metaphorically stained the area blood red and the residents accepted high crime levels and frequent killings as the hard facts of their life. There are tales of gunrunning and a flourishing underground narcotic network in the area.
The arrival of the Taylor brothers from the United States raised no eyebrows, as the men fell evenly into the general profile of the community. They were 'deportees', and had all the attributes that went along with the title. The house which they were building was larger than life. Despite the obvious, that a house of that magnitude was oddly placed within the poor socio-economic surroundings, residents were not concerned.
LONG CRIMINAL RECORD
The Taylor brothers had a long record of criminal activity in the United States and they added to the deportee arrival figures over and over again.
One of the deceased brothers, Derrick was deported from the Bahamas on January 26, this year, along with other persons with whom he had made arrangements to be smuggled back to the U.S.A. They were intercepted by the Bahamian police between the January 5 and 26. There was a conflict about the return of U.S. dollars that were paid to the Taylors for the job to get persons into the United States. This money was not returned and a major conflict developed. This could have cost the men and their companion their lives.
DEPORTED FIVE TIMES
The other brother, Fenel, was deported to Jamaica from
the United States on April 11, 2003, after serving 25 months for drug trafficking. He had been previously deported to Jamaica four times from that country.
Blood Lane provided comfort for these criminals who stayed clear of the local police who said the men had no criminal record in Jamaica.
However, when the men and their female companion were killed, the police found immigration documents, driver's licences with multiple names, jewellery, money and other valuables in the house.
POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE
While admitting that the Blood Lane area has been experiencing relative calm over recent
months, Area One crime officer Superintendent John Morris said because of its close proximity to violence-prone areas such as Hendon, Norwood, there is always the potential for violence.
"This community has had a history of violence and because of its location, we have had to be keeping it under close scrutiny," said Superintendent Morris. "Despite the recent killings, we are expecting that things will remain quiet."
While Superintendent Morris expects calm to return to the community in the aftermath of the triple murder, residents of the community see no immediate solutions to high levels of unemployment and potential for social upheaval that exist in the area. The unemployment issue is being blamed for the high crime level in the area.
"If a place name Blood Lane, it must be a dangerous place," said Ms. Brooks. "We have far too many idle youths in the area and, as you know, the devil will always find work for idle hands."
MP CONCERNED
Like Ms. Brooks, Member of Parliament Dr. Horace Chang is quite concerned about the high level of unemployment and general hopelessness in communities such as Blood Lane and the other communities in his constituency, which are plagued with a myriad of social problems.
"We have to find a way to get the young people to start taking a positive approach to life," said Dr. Chang. "We must find a way to get rid of the hopelessness and expose them to training so that they cam become employable."
Dr. Chang has developed a project called 'Towards Human Development in Montego Bay Healing the Republic', which he hopes will restore hope in the affected areas.
"We need to put in counselling and conflict resolution programmes to combat the violence," said Dr. Chang. "Most of our youngsters leave school at age 15 without being properly trained or socialised, so we must find ways to address this anomaly."
But, according to residents, the problems in Blood Lane are not just about training.
Ms. Brooks, for example, seems to have lost faith in
the youths of Blood Lane and seriously doubts that they can be rehabilitated. According to her, the area is infested with young gunslingers and drug peddlers, who lack the discipline and the willingness to pursue honest endeavours.
MAKE 'A FAST MONEY'
"When they rob and sell drugs, they are able to make a fast money," said Ms. Brooks. "I have heard many of them saying that they would not work for $3,000 and $5,000 a week."
Outside of the need for training and job creation, the Blood Lane resident said the community was in need of entities for socialisation, such as a community centre and more churches.
"We need more places for the young people to meet and socialise," said Ms. Brooks. "Also we need one or two churches in Blood Lane ... We need a touch of the blood of Jesus Christ."
