On Tuesday October 4, 2005 a joint police and military operation was conducted around 3:00am in the morning in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston. The aim was to apprehend key suspects in the murder of three police men in early May and search for illegal firearms. Reports are that the security forces were met with gunshots on their approach into Tivoli Gardens. A twenty four hour curfew was imposed in the area.

Follow up:

During the raid seventy four persons were detained of which seven were charged. Four persons were shot but none fatally. Thirty cellular phones were found at the home of one of the alleged suspects.
Also apprehended in the wee hours of Tuesday morning at their upper St. Andrew homes were Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke the ‘Don’ for Tivoli Gardens, his girlfriend and Justin O’Gilvie. Mr. Coke, ‘Dudus’ and his girlfriend have been charged with possession of ganja and released on bail of $20,000.00. Mr O’Gilvie has been released without charge.
During the morning hours West Kingston Member of Parliament, Bruce Golding and Councilor for Tivoli Gardens division, Desmond McKenzie went to the area while the curfew was still on. People from the area came out into the streets to follow them. While addressing the people near the Denham Town Primary School at North Street shots were fired in the crowd hitting two women who stood near to Mr. Golding.
Mr. Golding claims that the shots were fired by the police force and believes an attempt was actually made on his life. Assistant Commissioner of police, Gilbert Kameka said that Mr. Golding and Mr. McKenzie were both in violation of the curfew orders and that he is considering taking action against them.
Some persons believe that the People’s National Party (PNP) is deliberately trying to discredit the West Kingston area as it is a strong Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) area and they plan to hold elections soon. They say they don’t object to the raids but the manner in which it was carrier out. Some people feel that the politicians need to stay out of police business and allow them to do their work. After all if Mr. Golding was not out there in the streets the ladies shot would not have been there.
Haven’t we lived through this before? We seem to have come full circle. In the meantime the guns and gunmen are still at large and our nation suffers.
Nuff Love