War in Kingston

This morning I was planning on taking my first water samples at the Blue Flag properties on Beach Road in Negril. However, the plans were detained because the Ministry of Health (where the samples are usually tested) is closed due to the recent turmoil in Kingston. It has made international news. (There was a good segment on NPR this morning.)

Disclaimer: What follows are not my personal views or the views of Peace Corps, only what I have heard and read from local sources.

It started last week when Prime Minister Golding announced that Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne would sign the authorization for the extradition of Christopher Dudas Coke to the United States. The U.S. government requested the extradition of Dudas last August for drug and gun running charges. Dudas is based out of Tivoli Gardens in west Kingston. Last Friday, newspaper pictures showed that the neighborhood had been barricaded and was being patroled, presumably by local gang members. On Saturday what most Jamaicans have been referring to as "the war" began. Three police stations were attacked, one set on fire, and two fired at. The Prime Minister declared a state of emergency for the Kingston and St. Andrew parishes on Sunday which can be used as a rationale for suspending civil liberties and will last for a month unless police deem it safe to cease or parliment deems it necessary to continue. Unfortunately, many civilians did not leave before the violence started and are caught in the crossfire.
Both the police and the military are working hard to restore order to the region and to capture Coke. I was only able to talk very briefly with my host mom from Hellshire who works with the police in Kingston to assure that she was alright. Most of the violence has been concentrated in Kingston, but some has occured in the parish of St. Catherine as well. In fact, on Monday the flat bridge in Bog Walk, very close and en route to Ewarton (my old home) was barricaded. Fortunately, my host mom in Ewarton returned from her conference late enough in the afternoon that the blockade had been dismantled.

Everyone I have spoken with are very troubled that this is happening in the capital. Some see it as a potential "blessing in disguise." People are hopeful that this is a turning point for Jamaica to rid itself of the mafia system for good and provide for people's needs by other means.

Everyone has their own theories about where Dudas is, and wild rumors are flying. In any case, myself and other Peace Corps Volunteers are safe and being well looked after.