I published a book chapter on the infamous Shower Posse last Fall semester and spent a lot of time researching the Tivoli Gardens area. Seems as though the area is trying to be cleaned up and "reclaimed". Check the story out....
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120112/lead/lead3.html
The difference between the Somali pirates and the Jamaican pose is that from this article it seems that the Jamaica has a formal government while in Somalia there is no formal government. In this community however, there are similar characteristics. When crime becomes the economy, crime no long is a social deviance but the norm. In this article it is stated that the current challenge is connecting the community with the government and to keep the community to relay on crime as an income. The issue with that is the community had become accustomed to the control of the Shower Pose and favor Coke’s rule over their central government. A person’s natural instinct is to survive; if the government cannot make amends with the community another group might easily take control.
ReplyDeleteAnother aspect is that some police officers feel indifferent toward the community. It is hard to make amends when local officials feel resentment for the anguish they experienced and for fallen comrades during the battle to gain control over the community from the Shower Pose.
Jan
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Jamaican Posse The underworld activies of the Jamaican Posse truly pose a collaborated treat to that country and those that have tried to combat the crime prevention and investigation that has been ongoing for so many years. The fact that it has moved into the United States market of drug crime and is on the rise, is truly alarming. Since the Jamaican Posses's inception the the '60 to repress the political party, it has created the loss of millions of dollars in touristism as well as innocent lives. It is incredibile that there is not more attention focused on this high crime area in the travel industry since it appears that the Posses preyed on tourists.
Posted Yesterday by Shirley
Labels: Jamaican Posse
The problems associated with Coke and the Jamaican Posse was brought on by a political system in Jamaica where politicans used the Posse as henchman for various political reasons. The Golding Administration is no different, and has ties to Coke, who would provide the votes needed for Golding's political party. Within Tivoli gardens, which has poverty and lacks government services, Coke was seen as a modern-day Robin Hood who provided financial assistance and aid for the poor. This support could be one of the reasons why residents felt compelled to protect Coke which brought on the violent outbreak. Could Golding's willingness to promote instability within the garrison be linked to the large financial aid the country receives from the United States? Perhaps, but Coke was regarded by the majority of Jamaicans as the most powerful individual in the country. Could this be one of the reasons Golding was so willing to corporate with the United States? maybe this was the reason that Golding acted-because he could no longer control what his political created.
ReplyDeleteIn May of 2010 Prime Minister Bruce Golding ordered the arrest of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. This would spark a riot from the resident of the Tivoli Gardens. The resident s of Tivoli Gardens would barricade the entire garrison in an effort to prevent the police from capturing Dudus coke. Seventy three people were killed in the course of this operation causing Jamaica to declare a state of emergency. This would launch the largest recruitment of security forces in Jamaica history. Even though Dudus Coke escaped he was captured four weeks later on the outskirts of Jamaica. While Dudus Coke is awaiting sentencing in New York City, the police in Jamaica are working to try and restore the relationship between the Jamaican Government and Tivoli Gardens under the direction of James Forbes. Forbes believes the steps they are taking have begun to bear fruit in Tivoli but some of the residents of Tivoli do not agree. The residents of Tivoli do not trust the police. Many of them want Dudus Coke back because he took care of Tivoli Gardens. The residents had become somewhat dependent on Dudus Coke causing this whole community to become very loyal to him. As the article states if this police project in Tivoli gardens is truly to become a success, it must be a success in the eyes of the government and the Tivoli Gardens residents.
ReplyDeleteCorruption among the political leaders of JLP and PNP, which fired up this whole mess back in 1962, divided the people and employed the gangs to commit violence in the hopes of winning the governing position of Jamaica have at least grown closer in their goals. Dudus Coke was removed as an active participant in the daily affairs of Kingston. The murder rate is reported to have dropped 30% the rift causing gang violence should begin to slow down; with Coke out of the picture the Tivoli Gardens may have a chance to bloom with renewed hope of peace and social order. The mandate of the police is to be respectful, firm, compassionate, and create hope for the people in hopes of creating a partnership. It is the plan of the government to win the trust and buy into the community to ensure a long term healthy Jamaican society. This sounds like a good start for a more enjoyable life in such a beautiful island. Let’s hope this is not just cheap government talk.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Craig, Dudus Coke is seen as a modern day Robin Hood, and that has made it hard to regain control over Tivoli Gardens. Surely, the Jamaican government doesn’t think the people will trust them over-night after years and years of corruption and feelings of abandonment. The plan laid out by James Forbes, seems like a reasonable one, until that one corrupt cop takes revenge on the people, and then all the hard work goes unnoticed because now the citizens of Tivoli are seeking revenge as well. This seems like a vicious cycle that I am unsure will ever cease to exist. I commend Forbes for attempting to gain the trust and respect of the citizens, however this process will take years to complete. Dudus Coke did more for the citizens of Tivoli then the Jamaican government has, making the people feel a sense of obligation to protect Coke and the Jamaican Posse. I find it interesting however, that at first these gangs were formulated for political reasons, but now claim this war has no political inclinations. I am still unsure of these reasons these gangs act the way they do, instead of killing fellow gangs, why don’t they come together to help change their country for the better?
ReplyDeleteOf course the police project must be a success. But, that is a difficult task when the residents of the community do not fully trust the police and want their drug pushing law breaking ringleader back from custody. These ringleaders take care of the community in ways that the police could never match the same quality. The police are just doing their job, sometimes the residents forget that; and sometimes the police have a grudge against the first person they see on that day. In most of these low income neighborhoods, the don is always seen as a Robin Hood character and worshipped. Perhaps, if the police could out-Robin Hood them they could win the assurance of the community. All of this could be possible, but only if the police and government reached into their own pockets to take care of them. Until then, not many feelings are going to change on the way they feel about government.
ReplyDeleteThis was a good article regarding the rebuild of Tivoli Gardens. I think it was a good idea on the Jamaican government’s part to take the initiative and help rebuild, after the 2010 apprehension of Dudus coke. Yes, it is going to be hard to win over the citizen’s trust, but the government has to keep in mind that, Dudus coke provided a lot of resources to Tivoli Gardens, which was not given to them by the government, and their trust is with him. In order to make this a successful operation, the Jamaican government will have to continue to communicate with their citizens and make sure that the police are performing the jobs by helping to rebuild without prejudice.
ReplyDeleteIt is always a good thing when you see a big name go down. This was huge for Jamaica to get rid of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke. This will slow down the gang violence a lot. It is great that the police is trying to rebuild the Tivoli Gardens. Not only it is good for the police but it might just show the people around the area that aren't in the gangs, that it is safe again. With the government and police rebuilding the Tivoli, this might help the people trust them again. It will obviously be hard to gain the trust back because the police and government didn't control that area 'Dudus' did. That area was very poor and 'Dudus' provided money and goods for that area. With the government and police doing this hopefully they can get the city back.
ReplyDeleteEven though some Jamicans felt like it wasn't the best idea to get rid of Christopher "Dudus' Coke but it was for their best interest. In order for the community to get better they needed to clean up the streets by getting rid of the gang violence. For the Police to step in the positive role and only the positive role of Dudus Coke was key for the rebuilding of the Tivoli Gardens. With the government involved now hopefully the property value will go up along with the trust of people.
ReplyDeleteStephen and Jesus your points and views are well taken and respected. However, to write that extraditing Dudus Coke will make the community better and allow police to rebuild Tivoli Gardens is misleading. With what resources are the police and government supposed to use? Law enforcement lacks resources due to fact that they continued to be outmanned and outgunned. The government has no public resources readily available for the people who live in the garrisons. Tivoli Gardens is a poor community and as long as government and law enforcement continue to marginalize the garrison’s social disorganization will continue to happen within the community and violence will exist. By having wealth inequality and very limited government resources these are contributing factors that will continue to harm and affect the citizens that live in the garrison which in turn creates anxiety and brings instability to the garrisons. Sooner or later a new gang leader will fill Dudus Coke’s position and the citizens in these garrison’s will look towards that individual to provide the public assistance needed for survival.
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