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Tivoli Tension - Part 2
Story Created: Oct 25, 2011 at 6:51 PM ECT
Story Updated: Oct 26, 2011 at 5:45 AM ECT
Yesterday, Senior Multimedia Investigative Journalist Mark Bassant took us inside Tivoli Gardens to see how residents were coping following the bloody incursion in May 2010. Today, in the second instalment of this two-part series, Bassant looks at Bruce Golding's dealings with the people of Tivoli Gardens and gets their impressions of how he handled the “Dudus” extradition affair.
Mere footsteps from what was once the main headquarters of Tivoli's Don Michael Christopher "Dudus" Coke is the constituency office of MP Bruce Golding, the former Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Looking through the steel bars from Golding's office, the place that served as base for “Dudus” is visible. It is now inhabited by the police and army 24-7.
Barbara Johnson, a resident of Tivoli Gardens for more than 25 years, says Golding made the trip to this office every Thursday to attend to the needs of his loyal constituents and listen to their concerns, behind brown shutters pulled down for privacy.
"Golding is a good person. He treat the people dem good. He see as much as 50-60 people and help them with school fee and give them money to go and sell, and if they have medical bill he pay the medical bill. Any problem them have, he solve it.”
Johnson and her friend Wayne Bartley, president of the Tivoli Community Development Committee, were the only ones willing to speak to Express Online about “Dudus” and Golding in the same breath.
Most other residents stay a safe distance, some expressing fear that to utter any words about the taboo subject could mean death.
"No sire. Me nah get into that conversation," a Rastafarian man chimes in as he rushes past us.
Tivoli Gardens has been a garrison stronghold for the JLP since the late 1960s.
In fact, in early 1968 former Prime Minister Edward Seaga started a housing development project in an effort to transform the slum area into "a better place for the poor people".
The area known then as Back O'Wall was later renamed Tivoli Gardens. Seaga's goal was to transform not only the lives of these people, but the image of the place as well. "The Gardens", however, have been at the centre of several violent clashes, the most recent one, residents say, leaving them with more questions than answers.
Golding is at the centre of the controversy. After months of pressure, the then prime minister relented, acceding to the extradition request by US authorities for “Dudus”.
It's a decision that didn't sit well with Tivoli Gardens residents, who revolted for three days in late May 2010.
Bartley believes his MP got a raw deal.
"Political-wise, to me, Mr. Golding was forced into doing something that he didn't want to do. The whole extradition thing could have gone a better way. But because of political parties and other people riding him and saying: ‘sign! sign! extradite! extradite! or resign!’…"
It's a legacy newly-elected Prime Minister Andrew Holness will have to grapple with.
So, why did Golding take so long to agree to the US terms?
Bartley, who often spoke with Golding and “Dudus”, says their only link was the mere fact that “Dudus” lived in Golding's constituency.
"Mr. Golding didn't have control on Mr. Coke, and what he could do or not. He had to serve Mr. Coke ‘cause he is a resident of Western Kingston and he is the MP, although I have never seen him being in any contract or any kind of business with Mr. Coke yet, or seen something like that."
Recently, US authorities sent extradition requests for two Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) members they believe might have had ties with “Dudus” and his operations.
And with that matter still engaging the attention of the Jamaican government, there is another bone of contention on the horizon.
Golding stepped down as prime minister on Sunday, but Mrs. Johnson says most residents in the area will not be pleased if he also decides to step down as MP for West Kingston.
"They not going to take it lightly. Them ah go miss him ‘cause the next person that come along they don't think will do the things he doing. We would protest because he's a good MP."
There had never been a time in recent memory that the police and army could have set foot inside Tivoli Gardens, an area ruled by “Dudus” for 18 years. But now, they have become an intrinsic part of this community's life and landscape.
For journalists entering Tivoli Gardens, there's a risk. It's always safer to go with someone who was born and bred in the area, or knows the residents well.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Glenmore Hinds, who played a key role in organising the police and army operations during the incursion, dismisses claims by residents that innocent lives were lost during the bloody battle.
"There was a confrontation,” Hinds tells Express Online, “between security forces and an insurrection that was taking place inside there. It was not citizens against us, but criminal elements who were up in arms against us."
Hinds and other law enforcement officials describe “Dudus” as a dangerous man who was ruthless in the underworld, and responsible for numerous killings in Jamaica.
“Dudus” is gone, but areas around Tivoli Gardens still show signs of depression. Abandoned and dilapidated buildings line the Spanish Town Road that borders Tivoli to the north, resembling Sea Lots and other depressed areas in and around Port of Spain.
The birthplace of Bob Marley, Trench Town - just a three-minute drive from Tivoli Gardens - hasn't changed either.
But there's still hope for the people of these depressed communities – communities that have long been torn by violence and crime. They remain optimistic, certain that they will once again have a meaningful life.
Story Created: Oct 25, 2011 at 6:51 PM ECT
Story Updated: Oct 26, 2011 at 5:45 AM ECT
Yesterday, Senior Multimedia Investigative Journalist Mark Bassant took us inside Tivoli Gardens to see how residents were coping following the bloody incursion in May 2010. Today, in the second instalment of this two-part series, Bassant looks at Bruce Golding's dealings with the people of Tivoli Gardens and gets their impressions of how he handled the “Dudus” extradition affair.
Mere footsteps from what was once the main headquarters of Tivoli's Don Michael Christopher "Dudus" Coke is the constituency office of MP Bruce Golding, the former Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Looking through the steel bars from Golding's office, the place that served as base for “Dudus” is visible. It is now inhabited by the police and army 24-7.
Barbara Johnson, a resident of Tivoli Gardens for more than 25 years, says Golding made the trip to this office every Thursday to attend to the needs of his loyal constituents and listen to their concerns, behind brown shutters pulled down for privacy.
"Golding is a good person. He treat the people dem good. He see as much as 50-60 people and help them with school fee and give them money to go and sell, and if they have medical bill he pay the medical bill. Any problem them have, he solve it.”
Johnson and her friend Wayne Bartley, president of the Tivoli Community Development Committee, were the only ones willing to speak to Express Online about “Dudus” and Golding in the same breath.
Most other residents stay a safe distance, some expressing fear that to utter any words about the taboo subject could mean death.
"No sire. Me nah get into that conversation," a Rastafarian man chimes in as he rushes past us.
Tivoli Gardens has been a garrison stronghold for the JLP since the late 1960s.
In fact, in early 1968 former Prime Minister Edward Seaga started a housing development project in an effort to transform the slum area into "a better place for the poor people".
The area known then as Back O'Wall was later renamed Tivoli Gardens. Seaga's goal was to transform not only the lives of these people, but the image of the place as well. "The Gardens", however, have been at the centre of several violent clashes, the most recent one, residents say, leaving them with more questions than answers.
Golding is at the centre of the controversy. After months of pressure, the then prime minister relented, acceding to the extradition request by US authorities for “Dudus”.
It's a decision that didn't sit well with Tivoli Gardens residents, who revolted for three days in late May 2010.
Bartley believes his MP got a raw deal.
"Political-wise, to me, Mr. Golding was forced into doing something that he didn't want to do. The whole extradition thing could have gone a better way. But because of political parties and other people riding him and saying: ‘sign! sign! extradite! extradite! or resign!’…"
It's a legacy newly-elected Prime Minister Andrew Holness will have to grapple with.
So, why did Golding take so long to agree to the US terms?
Bartley, who often spoke with Golding and “Dudus”, says their only link was the mere fact that “Dudus” lived in Golding's constituency.
"Mr. Golding didn't have control on Mr. Coke, and what he could do or not. He had to serve Mr. Coke ‘cause he is a resident of Western Kingston and he is the MP, although I have never seen him being in any contract or any kind of business with Mr. Coke yet, or seen something like that."
Recently, US authorities sent extradition requests for two Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) members they believe might have had ties with “Dudus” and his operations.
And with that matter still engaging the attention of the Jamaican government, there is another bone of contention on the horizon.
Golding stepped down as prime minister on Sunday, but Mrs. Johnson says most residents in the area will not be pleased if he also decides to step down as MP for West Kingston.
"They not going to take it lightly. Them ah go miss him ‘cause the next person that come along they don't think will do the things he doing. We would protest because he's a good MP."
There had never been a time in recent memory that the police and army could have set foot inside Tivoli Gardens, an area ruled by “Dudus” for 18 years. But now, they have become an intrinsic part of this community's life and landscape.
For journalists entering Tivoli Gardens, there's a risk. It's always safer to go with someone who was born and bred in the area, or knows the residents well.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Glenmore Hinds, who played a key role in organising the police and army operations during the incursion, dismisses claims by residents that innocent lives were lost during the bloody battle.
"There was a confrontation,” Hinds tells Express Online, “between security forces and an insurrection that was taking place inside there. It was not citizens against us, but criminal elements who were up in arms against us."
Hinds and other law enforcement officials describe “Dudus” as a dangerous man who was ruthless in the underworld, and responsible for numerous killings in Jamaica.
“Dudus” is gone, but areas around Tivoli Gardens still show signs of depression. Abandoned and dilapidated buildings line the Spanish Town Road that borders Tivoli to the north, resembling Sea Lots and other depressed areas in and around Port of Spain.
The birthplace of Bob Marley, Trench Town - just a three-minute drive from Tivoli Gardens - hasn't changed either.
But there's still hope for the people of these depressed communities – communities that have long been torn by violence and crime. They remain optimistic, certain that they will once again have a meaningful life.
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