Time to build

After 19 months of a strong police-military presence with the aim of dismantling at least seven heavily armed gangs and restoring peace in August Town, St Andrew, the build phase of the zone of special operations (ZOSO) has formally commenced.

A ZOSO was established on July 8, 2020, in the 4.7-square kilometre community in the St Andrew Central Police Division after it racked up seven murders and 14 shootings, all of which were gang related, in just over six months.

With a budget of $450 million, a series of development projects aimed at tackling the social and cultural factors fuelling crime and violence are set to be wrapped up by mid- to late 2023.

Managing director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney, said infrastructural work has begun in the Goldsmith Villa and African Gardens sections of August Town to improve the road network.

“That improvement is done strategically to ensure that there is better permeability or access throughout the communities – getting rid of dead ends, making narrow roadways more accessible and open, and improve the drainage as well as boundary fencing,” he said.

Water supply and sewerage are among the other major areas that will be tackled in this phase.

The JSIF will also be targeting 1,316 households in Goldsmith Villa and 516 in African Gardens for regularisation with the National Water Commission.

He said prior to the ZOSO, work was done with the Jamaica Public Service Company to legalise customers and that the JSIF is still assessing whether all needs have been addressed, with plans to work on any gaps identified.

Sweeney said that the Hope Valley Experimental and August Town Primary schools will be rehabilitated in the build phase.

“We also will be implementing what we call the Safe Passages to School Programme, which is an improvement to the area in the vicinity of the schools. This will include guardrails, pedestrian crossings, signage, and murals to ensure that students entering and leaving the school have a safe environment for transportation or to their homes,” he said.

Sweeney, who also serves as deputy chairman of the ZOSO social intervention committee, added that spaces for parks and green spaces have been identified and will be upgraded in conjunction with community groups.

Community stakeholders and residents have welcomed the improvement projects.

Marshon Oakley, who has been a resident of Goldsmith Villa for 49 years, said the improved roads will be “highly appreciated” by the community.

“They will also be removing zinc fences, and I am sure that will help to beautify the community,” Oakley said.

Acting chairman of the August Town Community Development Council, Ricardo McCalpin, told The Gleaner that the build phase of the ZOSO will be bringing resources to the communities that were otherwise not made available.

“I think they can increase public education about the benefits of having water and electricity regularised. Also, the law enforcement aspect of it could do well with more targeted raids to eliminate criminals from the community,” McCalpin said.

Justice of the Peace Leroy Anthony Stampp commended the Government for taking great interest in the community beyond reducing crime.

“It will really benefit those individuals who are at the top of the hill and have not been getting water in their pipes all these years. Many times you see people carrying water on their heads and children carrying water, and I am sure it is frustrating,” Stampp said.

He added that repairs to the community centre, football field, and street lights were not outlined in the plan but would be beneficial to the residents.

“Street lights are very important, and the absence of them gives cover to those who want to perpetuate violence, so that is something that really should be addressed,” he said.

Oakley and Stampp said they were disappointed that the Goldsmith Villa Basic School was not listed among the institutions to be rehabilitated.

Oakley told The Gleaner that the institution has been closed for about five years and young children have to travel to Hermitage for school.

Head of the St Andrew Central Police Division, Senior Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, said that the ZOSO has been reaping success in tackling the bloody upsurge.

“For over a year, there was no serious crime in the space. Regrettably, in the latter part of last year, we had up to eight murders. Previous to that, we used to have about 11 murders over a one-year period, much shooting, confrontation, heightened tension and just an instability as it regards to peace,” he told The Gleaner.

Nesbeth added that the security forces have made “major inroads” in all seven gangs in August Town.

He said several players in most of the gangs are in police custody, facing various charges – murder, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

“In the past week, we have seized two firearms in one of the more problematic spaces right now, which is Hermitage. This gang in Hermitage has a long-standing feud and they have been playing it out in recent times. One of their noted gunmen was arrested at the last find,” Nesbeth said.

judana.murphy@gleanerjm.com