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Police are finally fighting Tivoli propaganda
'We are doing it for the country'
BY KARYL WALKER Online News Editor walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
THE police were adamant yesterday that the ongoing operation in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, is absolutely necessary for the country to advance and regain lost respectability.
Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, who spoke candidly with reporters and editors at the Observer's weekly Monday Exchange, said the security forces who are now on the ground, are committed to the country's well-being and should be hailed as patriots.
Police Commissioner Owen Ellington (left), and Assistant Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds address Observer editors and reporters at a special Observer Monday Exchange at the commissioner’s office on Old Hope Road in Kingston, yesterday. (Photo: Michael Gordon)
"We are not doing it for ourselves we are doing for the country. This is a fight for governability it is not just simply a police operation which we are executing. We believe that we had to re-establish the primacy of the State and the rule of law in Jamaica that no individual or sympathisers should believe that anybody can exist in this space outside of the reach of the law," he said.
Seventy-three persons were killed after a joint police/military team overpowered a band of thugs, who had vowed to defend Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and prevent the State from arresting the man some described as 'next to God'.
Three members of the security forces were also killed during the operation.
So far, 40 illegal weapons and more than 9,200 rounds of assorted ammunition have been recovered by the security forces.
According to Ellington, criminal elements had convinced themselves that the community where Coke was headquartered was a haven for them.
"One of the things that we had to put down was the perception that criminals could commit crimes in Jamaica and elsewhere and then take up refuge in Tivoli Gardens because that community was outside of the reach of the law," Ellington said. "The control that we have over the community, it is deliberate, it is necessary if we are to disarm the community."
Ellington, who praised the professionalism of the security forces who are taking part in the operation, said the police and soldiers had not seen their loved ones since the offensive was launched last week Monday.
He vowed that Tivoli Gardens would never again be allowed to gain the notoriety of being above the law.
"We have had situations where criminals on the run, multiple murderers, have taken up refuge in Tivoli Gardens. It provides that kind of refuge.
There are people who suspect that they are likely to be extradited [and] the first thing that they do is to go into Tivoli Gardens," he said.
"Tivoli Gardens gunmen can kill people anywhere and just go home and stay home and it is always a major challenge for the security forces to go in there and effect an arrest," Ellington added.
BY KARYL WALKER Online News Editor walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
THE police were adamant yesterday that the ongoing operation in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, is absolutely necessary for the country to advance and regain lost respectability.
Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, who spoke candidly with reporters and editors at the Observer's weekly Monday Exchange, said the security forces who are now on the ground, are committed to the country's well-being and should be hailed as patriots.
Police Commissioner Owen Ellington (left), and Assistant Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds address Observer editors and reporters at a special Observer Monday Exchange at the commissioner’s office on Old Hope Road in Kingston, yesterday. (Photo: Michael Gordon)
"We are not doing it for ourselves we are doing for the country. This is a fight for governability it is not just simply a police operation which we are executing. We believe that we had to re-establish the primacy of the State and the rule of law in Jamaica that no individual or sympathisers should believe that anybody can exist in this space outside of the reach of the law," he said.
Seventy-three persons were killed after a joint police/military team overpowered a band of thugs, who had vowed to defend Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and prevent the State from arresting the man some described as 'next to God'.
Three members of the security forces were also killed during the operation.
So far, 40 illegal weapons and more than 9,200 rounds of assorted ammunition have been recovered by the security forces.
According to Ellington, criminal elements had convinced themselves that the community where Coke was headquartered was a haven for them.
"One of the things that we had to put down was the perception that criminals could commit crimes in Jamaica and elsewhere and then take up refuge in Tivoli Gardens because that community was outside of the reach of the law," Ellington said. "The control that we have over the community, it is deliberate, it is necessary if we are to disarm the community."
Ellington, who praised the professionalism of the security forces who are taking part in the operation, said the police and soldiers had not seen their loved ones since the offensive was launched last week Monday.
He vowed that Tivoli Gardens would never again be allowed to gain the notoriety of being above the law.
"We have had situations where criminals on the run, multiple murderers, have taken up refuge in Tivoli Gardens. It provides that kind of refuge.
There are people who suspect that they are likely to be extradited [and] the first thing that they do is to go into Tivoli Gardens," he said.
"Tivoli Gardens gunmen can kill people anywhere and just go home and stay home and it is always a major challenge for the security forces to go in there and effect an arrest," Ellington added.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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