Please read our previous post, here, for a background to the following:
The US State Department, UK and Canadian Embassies have issued travel advisories for Kingston, Jamaica...
Stating that:
- The possibility exists for violence and unrest in the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area
- There will be the possible blocking of access routes to the airport and within Kingston
- US,UK and Canadian citizens should be cautious when venturing outside their homes and about entering Western Kingston
- The US Embassy is taking extra precaution.
The US travel advisory expires on June 21,2010.
This is as the height of barricades into and around Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town (West Kingston) has increased, with sandbags being added at the top of same.
The police have said that it's like the residents are preparing for war with the police, as sandbags are usually used to cushion guns.
Television Jamaica showed overhead pictures (taken by the police) of barricades, erected by West Kingston residents, which keep the police out and facilitate the easy escape of these residents.
The police have reiterated that it's illegal for residents to block access to their communities by the police.
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Yesterday, Tivoli residents marched in support of Mr. Coke (aka "Dudus") and against his extradition request.
Residents carried placards with messages like "Leave Dudus alone", "Jesus died for us, we will die for Dudus".
The march was mostly a jubilant one...with no incident.
Mr. Coke's lawyers, Trevor Beswick and Don Foote, were unsuccessful at blocking the warrant for his arrest, when they appealed the warrant in the Supreme Court, today.
However, Chief Justice, Zaila McCalla, will hear their case again on May 31, 2010, which is when the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn, should be apprised of all details re the case.
Ms. Llewellyn will be representing the US government in the case.
The police is urging Mr. Coke to turn himself in to the nearest police station.
In a statement to the media, Dudus' lawyer, Foote said that Dudus will abide by whatever the courts have ruled...which is for him to turn himself in.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, who is also Member of Parliament for Western Kingston, is appealing for calm among his constituents.
Member organizations representing civil society [including the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) Alliance] are requesting that West Kingston residents remove the barricades and that Mr. Coke hand himself over to the police.
We will keep you updated re these current events in our island.
NB: That there is a terse calm across the island, with Jamaicans watching with great interest, the events that are unfolding before our eyes.
GWAP Blog implores all Christians inside and outside of Jamaica to be praying for our island.
...For wisdom by our government and the security forces and that the rule of law and justice will preside...
...and that normalcy will return, post haste (quickly).
Gillian
Sources Include
1) CVM Television's "News Watch Hour", at 8:00 p.m., May 21, 2010
2) Television Jamaica's News at 7:00 p.m., May 21, 2010
3) Radio Programme, "Cover Story", Nationwide Radio, May 21, 2010
