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Gardens was specially protected by unprecedented and extensive
methods.
5.23.
With a view to repelling the efforts of the security forces
and with a view to matching the human resources of the security
forces, Coke enlisted the support of gunmen from other gangs. We
accept the preponderance of the evidence of witnesses who were privy
to Intelligence reports that, a large number of gunmen from across
Jamaica, were recruited to assist the gangs within Tivoli Gardens and
Denham Town.
5.24.
On the basis of the evidence seen by us in electronic and
photographic form, we find that the barricading/fortification of Tivoli
Gardens was largely done by men. But we saw enough evidence to
lead us to conclude that some females also assisted, particularly in
positioning sandbags and in keeping look out. We are unable to accept
the evidence of DCP Hinds that “the protesters started barricading the
community”. The protesters on 20 May were a group of about 600
women dressed in white. We saw none of these in the electronic
footage and photographs adduced in evidence.
The Need for the JDF
5.25.
Not only was Tivoli Gardens fortified by piles of old vehicles,
appliances and sundry other junk, but embedded within the fortifications were
Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) wired to dwellings. The JCF was incapable
of mounting an appropriate and effective challenge to the fortifications in order
to gain access into Tivoli Gardens. It was therefore essential that the operation
of 24 May be led by the JDF.