Turn in the guns, McGregor tells peace-hungry gangters
Published:Friday | February 28, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Even as he welcomed early signs that the 'combatants' in the protracted gang feud in west Kingston appear to be finally embracing peace, Superintendent of Police Steve McGregor yesterday warned that the first order of business is for the guns to be taken out of the hands of gangsters.
"The proof of the pudding is in the eating," said McGregor, who has been in charge of the tough Kingston Western Police Division since late 2013. "It's early days and it's just word of mouth. We want to see the action that will support such talk."
The Gleaner reported yesterday that gangsters in the area were seeking to initiate peace after two years of severe bloodletting that claimed scores of lives. A peace dance and march was reportedly held on Tuesday as a signal of their intent.
McGregor said fresh in his mind was the violence unleashed on the other side of the Corporate Area in east Kingston on Valentine's Day, when men who were under the impression that communities had agreed on peace, ventured into a neighbouring area, but were turned back.
17-month-old killed
The men reportedly returned with high-powered guns and opened fire. When the smoke cleared, a 17-month-old baby and a man lay dead. The shooting triggered reprisals in which a two-month-old infant narrowly missed death, as his parents took bullets for him.
McGregor said the violence erupted because men were still in possession of deadly weapons.
He also noted that this was not the first time adversaries who declared war on each other turned around and pronounced peace that has turned out to be short lived.
"We have seen it before and I hear it now," he asserted. "It is a welcome sign, different from what they would be posturing, especially in west Kingston, as the ones who are actively talking about peace are the ones who have been engaged in protracted feuds since I took command of the area."
Added McGregor: "They are the ones in the war zone, the Pink Lane; the Oxford Street and other areas; the combatants, for want of a better word, so to hear them speaking along that line is encouraging."
McGregor said that he was prepared to do whatever he could to assist in fostering peace in the area for the benefit of the law-abiding, innocent residents.
Has to be genuine
"But people have to be genuine in what they are saying ... a man can't say 'peace' and have his two hands behind him with his guns."
Asked what he attributed to the professed change of heart by members of the warring factions, McGregor was noncommittal.
"I wouldn't want to say that because that could cause problems and ignite, because I know that the pressure we are putting on can be a factor," he said.
McGregor also noted that another factor could be that of the anti-violence sentiments in the area.