Please read our previous post, as it provides a backdrop to the following:
The military offensive continues in Western Kingston and the Security Forces continue to do battle with gunmen across the Corporate Area (Kingston and St. Andrew) and St. Catherine.
However, many people are beginning to doubt the purpose of the military offensive, since the authorities claim not to have found Mr. Christopher "Dudus" Coke.
I want to remind our people that this process of disarming Tivoli may not be quick and easy and we must be willing to support our Security Forces, in their actions there.
500 people have been detained in Western Kingston, and are undergoing processing by the Security Forces.
Males between 12 and 16 years old were being processed first...especially those doing exams.
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), in collaboration with a few churches, are delivering (under heavy guard), food, water and baby pampers to the women and children of Tivoli Gardens.
The Councillor for Kingston and St. Andrew - Mayor Desmond McKenzie, has also been offering assistance.
He is requesting that vendors who'd usually go to the various markets in Downtown Kingston (including Coronation Market),go to the Papine, Constant Spring, Cross Roads and Stony Hill Markets, instead.
Mayor McKenzie stated that 80% of the markets in the Corporate Area are Downtown.
One section of Coronation Market has been burnt down.
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Victoria Jubilee Hospital (the Maternity Hospital), which is next to the Kingston Public Hospital, is running short of food supplies.
Mr. Jaslin Salmon, Head of the Red Cross, reported that he had only seen one (1) dead body.
The Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair, reported that detainees commended the soldiers, as they say that their lives were saved because of these soldiers.
He has said that there is no structural damage in Western Kingston, save the buildings (including the Hannah Town Police Station) that were reported as being burned.
He has reported that there has been no burning of human bodies in Western Kingston.
Gillian
Sources Include
1) Power 106 FM, May 26, 2010
2) Nationwide Radio, May 26, 2010
