It's fascinating to me that there are no postings on TB.net about what's going on in Kingston. Unusual. Why is that? It's usually such an insightful and vocal group of posting participants.

Garrison States brewing long time as Power to the People is corrupted by political party loyalties, a blind eye to "extortion"(protection) of citizens as a means of conducting business, gun & drug running as the currency enabling a sense of untouchable wealth for the dons & their quasi-councils & "followers"...also the reality that a don might help put food on a mother's table or help in schooling a youth for a price, perhaps in the future of giving up a son to the streets.

In the words of the" Don" Corleone, in the Godfather:

Someday - and that day may never come - I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as gift on my daughter's wedding day.


www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/The-garrison-phenomenon_7644210

www.jamaica-gleaner.com/pages/politics/

Music has arisen from the tuff living conditions of the "sufferers" in the ghetto/garrisons.
Consider, as a starter, the lyrics of Bob Marley's Concrete Jungle or his own experiences in Trench Town. (Trench Town Rock)

www.shmoop.com/concrete-jungle/lyrics.html

http://blacktalkradio.ning.com/profiles/blogs/pod-tivoli-stories-some-bad

As a Kingstonian here, I posted with my hope for a better situation evolving from these things. Either the cyberghost ate it or?

I was also proud of Rebecca's post telling of the care and humor that is in my city. These are still there.

Must have been the cyberghost as we didn't see any post from you regarding Kingston until now.

Good, I thought it may have been too sensitive a time to post it.

I feel an overwhelming sense from those round me and where I go, of getting on with growing as a nation and let justice do what it must.

We are a sensible people. There will be many stories to tell.

Time will tell if we have sufficient collective courage to undergo the National Psychoanalysis that is happening in a few quarters and deserves to spread.

See you at Calabash.

Taken from http://www.negrilstories.ca

DUDUS - It's Not About Cocaine, It's About Oil

Babylon is back, and this time it's for more wealth than everything ever stolen ...combined.
May, 2010



"Is Dudus just a pawn, nurtured to become the perfect excuse to provide the necessary conditions for the presence of heavily armed American soldiers, on the ground in the capital city at the same time as the most important contracts in the history of Jamaica are open for bidding, immediately after the government restructures a $1.27 billion US debt package with the IMF, who has always used that situation to strip away a country's control of it's own natural resources and utilities, just as the United States is mobilizing to engage in a war with the Middle East and will need to guarantee themselves some new supplies of oil? "

This could be the most ridiculous thing I have ever read. This one is on JA

Is this an April Fools edition?

Mr. Wint, with all due respect because you have posted interesting items here previously, I find your submission of this article less than worthy of what I would expect from you. Americans are guilty of many things and far from perfect, but to imply the murderous conditions in Kingston are due to an American interest in oil is tantamount to believing in unicorns. The police have been reluctant (or better yet--afraid) to venture into Tivoli Gardens for some 30 years now; I know of nowhere in America the same condition exists. This is a homegrown problem, and it needs a homegrown solution. SOON. If the Americans are now stepping in, it is with the invitation of the Jamaican government which seems powerless to protect its own law-abiding citizens.

There was a time when the police were afraid to go into Cabrini Green (Chicago). Back in the 70's the fire department would not go into Columbia Point (Boston) with out a police escort.

Way off Base i could not agree with u more. I posted that link just to see how others would take it. Its being discussed on other websites and social networks so i wanted a reaction.

I dont believe that article for a second.

U said it best. "This is a homegrown problem, and it needs a homegrown solution. SOON."

Did the cybeghost eat my last posting too?

No postings have not been posted lately so it looks like the cyberghost is alive and well. Please try to post it again.

I think what is taking place in Kingston at this time should be left solely up to the Observer the Gleaner the radio and TV stations as the best resource of information.

No negative/positive comments from [edited by TB.Net]. Peace will reign again.

There has not been peace in Tivoli Gardens in three decades. Exactly when is "again?"

There has been just about as much peace in Tivoli as there has been throughout the Kingston area in the last 30 years or so. I too believe that peace will reign again.

The war on drugs in America is a war against itself. Nothing drives the drug trade but demand and the biggest reason for drug violence is the attempt to deal with a public health problem (addiction) with guns, police, courts and prisons. The US wants the man extradicted, so people are dying in Jamaica. I doubt the people of Kingston enlisted to be cannon fodder for this senseless war.

Van, Thanks for your insightful perspective

I have to disagree with Van. There is always going to be a market for drugs. Sorry - sad but true. To me the issue here is the the Prime Minister of Jamaica [edited by TB.Net] This link is from the NY Times and was from before the violence but is good background.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/world/americas/26jamaica.html