Gang Truce Holding Up, but Police Keeping Close Watch on Other Factions

Chester Williams

In March, a state of emergency was declared to deal with the spike in gang-related gun violence in the city. Persons affiliated with eight south side gang groups were rounded up and placed at the central prison in Hattieville. It has been almost two weeks since a truce was reached and one hundred plus persons were released with the condition that they will keep the peace. While for the most part the work of the Conscious Youth Development Programme and mediator Nuri Mohammed has been working, ComPol Chester Williams says that they are monitoring disturbances by a South Side Gangster in the Reggae Street area as well as elsewhere. He warns that the department may invoke another state of emergency, if needed, because gang members will not be allowed to hold a community hostage.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We continue to monitor the gang situation; it is at the forefront of what we do every day. The last thing we want is to have a gang flare up in time like these and so it is of paramount importance that they remain under our radar. CYDP has been busy, Mister Nuri has been busy as well, working with these different groups with a view to see how the peace can be maintained going forward. That is what we want. So far it is going well, I must say; we have not seen any incident coming from any of the groups that were in prison who were a part of that state of emergency. I can say though that we see some activities in the south side area—and this is the area of Reggae Street—where the S.S.G., South Side Gangster, are and we are monitoring that situation very closely. If it is that they feel like they will start their nonsense, then we have news for them.”