Taking back our communities ... with paint
Published:Sunday | March 3, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Early Bird pictures removed from Matthews Lane
Anastasia Cunningham, News Coordinator
The images of the late Glenford 'Early Bird' Phipps that adorned the walls of the Matthews Lane community in downtown Kingston for more than 20 years are no more.
As part of an islandwide police operation to paint out murals in communities that depict slain or living dons or gang members, police from Area Four took to communities across the Central Kingston Division, beginning in Matthews Lane, with paint brushes and buckets of paint last week.
Anything that glorified criminality or that was deemed negative was painted over.
"This is us showing our stamp that we are taking back the communities for the residents," said Eron Samuels, assistant superintendent of police for the Central Kingston Division.
"We want to show both the residents and the gang members that we are taking a proactive approach and are trying to dismantle all gangs within the division.
"We want to ensure from now that all these gangs recognise that the police are here to serve and protect, we want them to know we are in charge, we are representing the citizens of Jamaica and we are taking back the communities for them," added Samuels.
Matthews Lane
He said the police started in Matthews Lane because it was the hottest part of the division.
Samuels noted that the police just completed a monthlong curfew in the area, after three murders were committed there in three weeks.
He said after Matthews Lane the police plan to move to areas such as Tel Aviv, Southside, Fletcher's Land and Allman Town, where murals of slain gang members are many.
"We have been getting support from the residents because they recognise that we are trying to move the community forward by ridding it of these negative influences. They are even showing us areas to paint out," Samuels noted.
Some Matthews Lane residents, however, were not pleased with the operation. They told The Sunday Gleaner that the murals of Early Bird were done as a tribute and reminder of his positive influence and always wanting the best for the community.
"Early Bird was always someone who believed in community development, education and entrepreneurship for the people of his community," said one resident, who declined to be named.
"He was always encouraging persons who live here to buy out the place for themselves. Is him set up the Glenford Phipps Basic School down the road, because him believe in education, and he started a lot of community projects."
Early Bird, the older brother of Donald 'Zeeks' Phipps, was a renowned leader of the Matthews Lane community during the 1970s and 1980s.
He met his demise in 1990 at the hands of gunmen. Residents said they have always regarded him as a role model, far removed from the so-called dons of today.
"He was an inspiration for the community. He believed that the gun culture should end and the residents should turn themselves to economic development to uplift themselves, educate their youth and move the community forward," said one resident.
taking away an inspiration
"Painting out these murals won't change the violence and crime in the country. In fact, it is more taking away an inspiration that we use to keep us on the right path.
"We all want the community to come back as one and the violence stop, but how this change that, I really don't know. This is neither the beginning nor the end. They need to address the actual root of the matter, the bigger picture. The people them want work to earn a living to take care a them family. Is desperation cause most of the violence," another resident added.
"After them paint out the murals, what next?" one woman asked as she watched the police at work.
A few weeks ago, the police in the St Catherine North Division carried out a similar operation in the communities of De la Vega City, Tawes Pen, Thompson Pen and several communities along the Spanish Town Bypass and Old Harbour Road.