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Coke's west Kingston office turns 'regimental'
Published: Monday | June 28, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
In the days of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, this Presidential Click office in Tivoli Gardens was hallowed territory. Today, it has been transformed into a police post, a signal that Coke's empire has crumbled and that the State is in full control of the community. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer
It was once the seat of power in west Kingston, this sparsely furnished office nestled in a corner of the Tivoli Gardens Community Centre, which was the nerve centre for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke's 'Presidential Click' outfit.
It is now being used by the security forces to help usher in a new era in this west Kingston community.
Coke's desks, refrigerator and chairs provide a small measure of comfort for police personnel staffing the new Tivoli Gardens police post, which was established after the military incursion on May 24.
"Everything in deh a fi him," one police officer confirmed when The Gleaner visited the community on Friday, less than 24 hours after the accused drug kingpin was extradited to the United States (US).
"The Presidential Click is now the regimental click," said another, eliciting laughter from his colleagues standing nearby.
The Gleaner was only able to get a glimpse inside the facility as security personnel restricted our news team from entering.
For residents who had become accustomed to seeing the reputed Shower Posse leader at his office every day, his absence is something they are still coming to grips with.
"It look weird fi look over deh and see bare police and soldier," said one woman.
Coke, who is also known as 'President', was forced to flee the Tivoli Gardens base he controlled for well over a decade after the security forces moved in on May 24 to arrest him.
He managed to elude them for almost a month before he was captured while travelling in a vehicle with evangelical preacher Reverend Merrick 'Al' Miller along Mandela Highway last Tuesday.
Coke, who is facing drug and gunrunning charges in New York, waived his right to an extradition hearing last Thursday and was handed over to US marshals hours later.
He pleaded not guilty in a federal court in Manhattan, New York, the next day and is scheduled to return to court today.
Still a hero to some
As Coke was appearing before US District Judge Robert Patterson on Friday, some residents of Tivoli Gardens were reflecting on the man many still revere as a hero.
They said it was commonplace to see a decently dressed Coke walking or riding his bike through the community or just hanging out near his Presidential Click office.
"Same way yuh see dem people deh sid dung ova deh so," said one woman, pointing to two women sitting on the walls of an abandoned building nearby, "a same so sometimes yuh woulda see him sid dung ova deh so pan all a Friday."
The fact that this was the start of the weekend in "a community wha never sleep" made Coke's absence even tougher for some.
"Mi coulda jus walk ova to mi don and beg him a money and him jus push him han' inna him pocket and gi mi all a $2,000 or $3,000," said another resident.
Published: Monday | June 28, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
In the days of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, this Presidential Click office in Tivoli Gardens was hallowed territory. Today, it has been transformed into a police post, a signal that Coke's empire has crumbled and that the State is in full control of the community. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer
It was once the seat of power in west Kingston, this sparsely furnished office nestled in a corner of the Tivoli Gardens Community Centre, which was the nerve centre for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke's 'Presidential Click' outfit.
It is now being used by the security forces to help usher in a new era in this west Kingston community.
Coke's desks, refrigerator and chairs provide a small measure of comfort for police personnel staffing the new Tivoli Gardens police post, which was established after the military incursion on May 24.
"Everything in deh a fi him," one police officer confirmed when The Gleaner visited the community on Friday, less than 24 hours after the accused drug kingpin was extradited to the United States (US).
"The Presidential Click is now the regimental click," said another, eliciting laughter from his colleagues standing nearby.
The Gleaner was only able to get a glimpse inside the facility as security personnel restricted our news team from entering.
For residents who had become accustomed to seeing the reputed Shower Posse leader at his office every day, his absence is something they are still coming to grips with.
"It look weird fi look over deh and see bare police and soldier," said one woman.
Coke, who is also known as 'President', was forced to flee the Tivoli Gardens base he controlled for well over a decade after the security forces moved in on May 24 to arrest him.
He managed to elude them for almost a month before he was captured while travelling in a vehicle with evangelical preacher Reverend Merrick 'Al' Miller along Mandela Highway last Tuesday.
Coke, who is facing drug and gunrunning charges in New York, waived his right to an extradition hearing last Thursday and was handed over to US marshals hours later.
He pleaded not guilty in a federal court in Manhattan, New York, the next day and is scheduled to return to court today.
Still a hero to some
As Coke was appearing before US District Judge Robert Patterson on Friday, some residents of Tivoli Gardens were reflecting on the man many still revere as a hero.
They said it was commonplace to see a decently dressed Coke walking or riding his bike through the community or just hanging out near his Presidential Click office.
"Same way yuh see dem people deh sid dung ova deh so," said one woman, pointing to two women sitting on the walls of an abandoned building nearby, "a same so sometimes yuh woulda see him sid dung ova deh so pan all a Friday."
The fact that this was the start of the weekend in "a community wha never sleep" made Coke's absence even tougher for some.
"Mi coulda jus walk ova to mi don and beg him a money and him jus push him han' inna him pocket and gi mi all a $2,000 or $3,000," said another resident.
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