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Since the imprisonment of their former area leader, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, men from the Matthews' Lane community have no longer been able to conduct their extortion racket in some areas of downtown, Kingston.
The thugs from the community have not been able to collect the usual amount of money from vendors and businesses, an illicit practice which they were known to enjoy for a number of years.
THE STAR recently visited the Coronation Market in downtown, Kingston and witnessed higglers chasing away men from the community who were attempting to collect money from them.
"One time when dem have dem backitive, dem jus come and tek up anyting weh dem want ... Dem cyaa try dat now cause dem boss nuh deh ya and nobody naw go defend dem if anyting," one vendor explained.
Zekes was found guilty of the April 2005 murders of Dayton 'Scotchbrite' Williams and Rodney Farquharson.
Police reports are that Williams and Farquharson were shot and killed and their bodies burnt and dumped in an open lot at Rose Lane in downtown, Kingston.
Following police investigations, Phipps was charged with the murders and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Semen in mouth
It was alleged in court that semen belonging to 'Zekes' was found in the mouth of one of the slain men.
The allegations of their area leader, having been involved in homosexuality and his imprisonment, have caused the loss in the power of the present thugs. Another vendor did not hold anything back when asked about the present state of things.
"Dem use to plague wi an gwaan like dem a di wickedest ting ... None a dem cyaa come gwaan like dem waan bad me up fi nuttin now. Fi dem time done," she said, much to the agreement of her neighbouring vendors who even shouted "Amen!"
No fear
Similarly, business owners in the area who once were subjected to the extortion racket now say that they do not have to fear as much for their lives.
"At times we had to be worrying 'what if?' Since their so called 'Big Man' is gone and people started taking a stand against them, they just stopped coming," one business owner said.
Efforts to speak with known thugs from the lane proved futile as THE STAR was ordered on several occasions to leave and not to ask any questions.
However, an elderly resident said that the 'respect' which was attached to the community started to taper off when the allegations of 'Zekes' being involved in homosexual acts came about.
When THE STAR spoke to the police they confirmed the woes of the Matthews Lane thugs. Veteran to the downtown crime scene, ISCF Special Sergeant Stephen 'Brown Man' Watson said that there was waning support of the entire organisation within the community, as residents were resisting the return to 'donship' rule.
"... they are rejecting the new don. He, too, does not want to assume the donship as he is fearful of his life, based on the communities stance," said the officer.
He cited the combination of the police's relentless efforts in the area and the lack of community support, as the reasons for this positive trend.
"Since Zekes' incarceration, the foot soldiers have been disoriented, as they no longer have a director to dictate them. Persons are less fearful of them because of the presence of the police, who are posted strategically to disrupt criminal gangs' activities. It (extortion) is still happening, but is not as prevalent," said Watson.
http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/...ews/news1.html
The thugs from the community have not been able to collect the usual amount of money from vendors and businesses, an illicit practice which they were known to enjoy for a number of years.
THE STAR recently visited the Coronation Market in downtown, Kingston and witnessed higglers chasing away men from the community who were attempting to collect money from them.
"One time when dem have dem backitive, dem jus come and tek up anyting weh dem want ... Dem cyaa try dat now cause dem boss nuh deh ya and nobody naw go defend dem if anyting," one vendor explained.
Zekes was found guilty of the April 2005 murders of Dayton 'Scotchbrite' Williams and Rodney Farquharson.
Police reports are that Williams and Farquharson were shot and killed and their bodies burnt and dumped in an open lot at Rose Lane in downtown, Kingston.
Following police investigations, Phipps was charged with the murders and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Semen in mouth
It was alleged in court that semen belonging to 'Zekes' was found in the mouth of one of the slain men.
The allegations of their area leader, having been involved in homosexuality and his imprisonment, have caused the loss in the power of the present thugs. Another vendor did not hold anything back when asked about the present state of things.
"Dem use to plague wi an gwaan like dem a di wickedest ting ... None a dem cyaa come gwaan like dem waan bad me up fi nuttin now. Fi dem time done," she said, much to the agreement of her neighbouring vendors who even shouted "Amen!"
No fear
Similarly, business owners in the area who once were subjected to the extortion racket now say that they do not have to fear as much for their lives.
"At times we had to be worrying 'what if?' Since their so called 'Big Man' is gone and people started taking a stand against them, they just stopped coming," one business owner said.
Efforts to speak with known thugs from the lane proved futile as THE STAR was ordered on several occasions to leave and not to ask any questions.
However, an elderly resident said that the 'respect' which was attached to the community started to taper off when the allegations of 'Zekes' being involved in homosexual acts came about.
When THE STAR spoke to the police they confirmed the woes of the Matthews Lane thugs. Veteran to the downtown crime scene, ISCF Special Sergeant Stephen 'Brown Man' Watson said that there was waning support of the entire organisation within the community, as residents were resisting the return to 'donship' rule.
"... they are rejecting the new don. He, too, does not want to assume the donship as he is fearful of his life, based on the communities stance," said the officer.
He cited the combination of the police's relentless efforts in the area and the lack of community support, as the reasons for this positive trend.
"Since Zekes' incarceration, the foot soldiers have been disoriented, as they no longer have a director to dictate them. Persons are less fearful of them because of the presence of the police, who are posted strategically to disrupt criminal gangs' activities. It (extortion) is still happening, but is not as prevalent," said Watson.
http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/...ews/news1.html
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