A young man, murdered Thursday for crossing the imaginary borderline between two warring factions in Gregory Park, Portmore, St. Catherine, became the fifth victim since Monday in a deadly gang feud in the community.
The 'Road-man' gang, situated along the Gregory Park main road, and the 'Gulf Man' gang from the 'Scheme' and 'Capture Land' areas, have been at each other since the start of the week, leaving residents to live in fear.
On Thursday when THE STAR visited the area, the tension was evident in the eyes of the few residents spotted. Despite the presence of police officers and soldiers, few were willing to speak, with one cookshop owner only commenting, "Is me u waa dem come shot a morning like di man dis (Thursday) morning."
The fear-stricken resident was referring to the latest victim, Kevin Bryan, 25, from the 'Scheme' area, who was shot off his bicycle along the Gregory Park main road about 7:15 a.m. His mother, Paulette Bryan, explained that he did not heed warnings about the new 'borderline law.'
"Him seh him a guh a road an mi tell him don't go because borderline set up, but him na hear mi. Likkle more is a woman a mi gate a tell mi dat mi son get shot," said a solemn Bryan.
A witness said Bryan was speaking to a friend in the 'Road-man' area when he was overheard by a thug saying, "me nah tek talk from nobody, worse how a dem kill mi cousin (Sheldon Philips)." He was shot repeatedly.
Although the borderline is now cause of *lo**shed, some residents of Gregory Park road say it has helped to save many lives.
"Di Gulf Man dem start shot afta wi from wa day, suh wi afi institute a borderline fi protect wiself. A dem start di f....ry," lamented a resident from the 'Road-man' area.
It is alleged that an order issued by an incarcerated don from the 'Gulf Man' area to kill a man hailing from the opposing community triggered the war. Although the police seem unaware of the matter, residents on both sides of the battle confirmed this claim.
With the tension so high, head of operations for the St. Catherine South Division, Deputy Superintendent Clive Blaire, spoke of the police's long-term plan to regain peace.
"We have increased spot checks and special operations. We cannot give details on these at this time, but we are being supported by the Jamaica Defence Force and will be maintaining this strong presence in the community for as long as it takes," said DSP Blaire.
In the meantime, residents say they are not sleeping at nights with regular gunshots shattering their night's calm, and are pleading for a post to be set up in the area.
"Wi caa sleep, pickney caa guh school ... a nuh seh di man dem a shot di pickney dem, but sake a borderline, man caa guh a work suh lunch and bus fare money nuh deh deh fi dem reach a school. Wi a beg an a plead for a tent (police/soldier post) suh di place can get safe again," said a resident.
A young man, murdered Thursday for crossing the imaginary borderline between two warring factions in Gregory Park, Portmore, St. Catherine, became the fifth victim since Monday in a deadly gang feud in the community.
The 'Road-man' gang, situated along the Gregory Park main road, and the 'Gulf Man' gang from the 'Scheme' and 'Capture Land' areas, have been at each other since the start of the week, leaving residents to live in fear.
On Thursday when THE STAR visited the area, the tension was evident in the eyes of the few residents spotted. Despite the presence of police officers and soldiers, few were willing to speak, with one cookshop owner only commenting, "Is me u waa dem come shot a morning like di man dis (Thursday) morning."
The fear-stricken resident was referring to the latest victim, Kevin Bryan, 25, from the 'Scheme' area, who was shot off his bicycle along the Gregory Park main road about 7:15 a.m. His mother, Paulette Bryan, explained that he did not heed warnings about the new 'borderline law.'
"Him seh him a guh a road an mi tell him don't go because borderline set up, but him na hear mi. Likkle more is a woman a mi gate a tell mi dat mi son get shot," said a solemn Bryan.
A witness said Bryan was speaking to a friend in the 'Road-man' area when he was overheard by a thug saying, "me nah tek talk from nobody, worse how a dem kill mi cousin (Sheldon Philips)." He was shot repeatedly.
Although the borderline is now cause of *lo**shed, some residents of Gregory Park road say it has helped to save many lives.
"Di Gulf Man dem start shot afta wi from wa day, suh wi afi institute a borderline fi protect wiself. A dem start di f....ry," lamented a resident from the 'Road-man' area.
It is alleged that an order issued by an incarcerated don from the 'Gulf Man' area to kill a man hailing from the opposing community triggered the war. Although the police seem unaware of the matter, residents on both sides of the battle confirmed this claim.
With the tension so high, head of operations for the St. Catherine South Division, Deputy Superintendent Clive Blaire, spoke of the police's long-term plan to regain peace.
"We have increased spot checks and special operations. We cannot give details on these at this time, but we are being supported by the Jamaica Defence Force and will be maintaining this strong presence in the community for as long as it takes," said DSP Blaire.
In the meantime, residents say they are not sleeping at nights with regular gunshots shattering their night's calm, and are pleading for a post to be set up in the area.
"Wi caa sleep, pickney caa guh school ... a nuh seh di man dem a shot di pickney dem, but sake a borderline, man caa guh a work suh lunch and bus fare money nuh deh deh fi dem reach a school. Wi a beg an a plead for a tent (police/soldier post) suh di place can get safe again," said a resident.