Lead Stories

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

A police post is to be established in Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, as part of the State's efforts to entrench law and order in a community reputed to be the fiefdom of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, an alleged drug baron.

Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson made the disclosure yesterday as he addressed a Gleaner Editors' Forum.

Nelson revealed that police posts would be set up in all communities upon which the Government would move to dismantle criminal gangs which thrive in so-called garrisons.

"Once we go into these communities, we are going to leave permanent police posts inside to continue to monitor, from a law-enforcement point of view, what takes place, so that you don't revert to what existed before as far as criminality is concerned," Nelson declared

West Kingston already has four police stations - at Denham Town, Fletcher's Land, Hannah Town and on Darling Street.

Nelson said the maintenance of law and order would be a key component to ensuring that gangsters not turn communities into untouchable criminal strongholds.

"There is an urgent need for us to address the dismantling of criminal gangs and the existence of high levels of criminality in the country," Nelson told the forum.

He said the State's crushing of flare-ups throughout the capital created an opportunity to make sweeping changes in reclaiming power from dons and nullifying their influence.

gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com