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NO MORE DON - Matthews Lane residents say no rulers since 'Zekes' <DIV class=KonaBody j4lQv="true">
The many roadblocks which decorated almost every street have been removed. The streets which used to be filled with debris have been cleared, the residents are building a community park, clearing open lots and allowing any and everyone to pass through at their own will.
There is CURRENTLY no don in Matthews Lane and if the residents have their way, this is how it will be for many years to come.
Residents of the western Kingston community, more popularly known for its 'donmanship' of the now incarcerated Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, its political stance and violence, say all this has changed and they are now dealing with improvements which will take the area away from the stigma attached to it.
The many roadblocks, which decorated almost every street in the community, have been removed; the streets which used to be filled with debris have been cleared; the residents are building a community park, clearing open lots and allowing any and everyone to pass through at their own will.
But one of the most significant changes is that there will be no don for the area to give out any order or make any decisions. "Now every man equal, every man have a say, nobody no rule nobody," one resident told THE STAR. "We a we own don," another added.
The residents say they have seen where their lives are improving since they have moved away from the violence and tribal war, once a popular pastime there. They say not being in conflict with other communities has opened up a window of opportunity for the community.
One of these opportunities has come in the form of a quickly growing community dance called 'Cool Tuesdays'. The Beeston Street dance, which has been going on for several months now, has been getting a great deal of attention and attracting a lot of people, even 'high rollers' from uptown.
The Kingston Central police confirmed that crime associated with the community is at an all time low. "We haven't had anything from them for a while; crime wise they have been quiet," Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Derrick Champagnie, crime chief for the division revealed: "I know they have been cleaning up the place doing work on a park and some more things."
DSP Champagnie says he does not know if there is a don in Matthews Lane but from what he has gathered, the residents are trying to get the area to run like a normal community where any and everyone can come in and go as they feel.
In the past, Matthews Lane dominated by 'Zekes', was involved in several feuds with other communities including Tivoli. One of the last confrontations that was associated with the community involved one with a resident who had defected to another area. It is said that shortly after Phipps's imprisonment, this individual tried unsuccessfully to set down roots in the community. He later left the island where he was arrested and charged in the United States. </DIV>
The many roadblocks which decorated almost every street have been removed. The streets which used to be filled with debris have been cleared, the residents are building a community park, clearing open lots and allowing any and everyone to pass through at their own will.
There is CURRENTLY no don in Matthews Lane and if the residents have their way, this is how it will be for many years to come.
Residents of the western Kingston community, more popularly known for its 'donmanship' of the now incarcerated Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, its political stance and violence, say all this has changed and they are now dealing with improvements which will take the area away from the stigma attached to it.
The many roadblocks, which decorated almost every street in the community, have been removed; the streets which used to be filled with debris have been cleared; the residents are building a community park, clearing open lots and allowing any and everyone to pass through at their own will.
But one of the most significant changes is that there will be no don for the area to give out any order or make any decisions. "Now every man equal, every man have a say, nobody no rule nobody," one resident told THE STAR. "We a we own don," another added.
The residents say they have seen where their lives are improving since they have moved away from the violence and tribal war, once a popular pastime there. They say not being in conflict with other communities has opened up a window of opportunity for the community.
One of these opportunities has come in the form of a quickly growing community dance called 'Cool Tuesdays'. The Beeston Street dance, which has been going on for several months now, has been getting a great deal of attention and attracting a lot of people, even 'high rollers' from uptown.
The Kingston Central police confirmed that crime associated with the community is at an all time low. "We haven't had anything from them for a while; crime wise they have been quiet," Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Derrick Champagnie, crime chief for the division revealed: "I know they have been cleaning up the place doing work on a park and some more things."
DSP Champagnie says he does not know if there is a don in Matthews Lane but from what he has gathered, the residents are trying to get the area to run like a normal community where any and everyone can come in and go as they feel.
In the past, Matthews Lane dominated by 'Zekes', was involved in several feuds with other communities including Tivoli. One of the last confrontations that was associated with the community involved one with a resident who had defected to another area. It is said that shortly after Phipps's imprisonment, this individual tried unsuccessfully to set down roots in the community. He later left the island where he was arrested and charged in the United States. </DIV>
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