THE ongoing violence in sections of West Kingston has forced former Prime Minister Edward Seaga to cancel his 80th birthday party which was scheduled to be held at Devon House in St Andrew on Saturday.

Seaga had invited popular artists Mavado and Etana to perform at his party but plans were thrown in a spin after violence broke out in sections of the Corporate Area and St Catherine since last week.

The violence is concentrated in the hotbed community of Tivoli Gardens which is under siege from a joint police/military team which has bombarded the area in search of reputed don, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Tivoli Gardens was built by Seaga in the late 1960's. The area was originally a slum known as 'Back a Wall'.

The original residents were forced out and replaced them with Seaga's supporters.

Coke's father, Lester Coke, popularly called 'Jim Brown' was a main political activist in Seaga's bid for power in the 1980 elections which ended with more than 800 murders.

'Jim Brown' was mysteriously burnt to death in a cell at the General Penitentiary, now called the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, days before he was to be extradited to the United States to face drug charges.

Seaga, the longest serving member of parliament, represented the constituency of West Kingston for more than 40 years. Tivoli Gardens is the seat of power for the constituency.

Current Prime Minister Bruce Golding is now the parliamentary representative for West Kingston.