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TIVOLI GARDENS – A GARRISON COMMUNITY
2.16.
Tivoli Gardens was the most significant garrison community in
Jamaica. Various eminent Jamaicans have described the phenomenon known in
Jamaica as “a garrison community”. These have included former Chief Justice
Lensley Wolfe, Professor Barry Chevannes, former Justice of Appeal, James Kerr,
and Mr. Frank Phipps OJ Q.C.
2.17.
Justice Kerr explained the creation of garrison communities thus in
in the Report of the National Committee on Political Tribalism (1997):
“Garrison communities are created by:
(i)
the development of large-scale housing schemes by
the State and the allocation of houses therein to
supporters of the party in power;
(ii)
homogenization by the dominant party activists
pushing out the minority from within and guarding
against invasion from outside; and
(iii)
the expelled setting up a squatter community.”
2.18.
Dr. Barry Chevannes is quoted in the said Report as describing a
garrison community as under the control of a Don. He says:
“Entry and exit to and from these communities are
controlled by the so-called ‘top ranking’ and gang leaders
who have close relationships with the Member of Parliament
for the constituency, get preferential access to contracts and
jobs and function as key elements of the local level
community political leadership in both [political] parties in
these inner city poor areas. These constituencies are made
up preponderantly of these “garrison communities” where
organised political gangs with high-powered M-16 and AK 47
rifles and sub-machine guns control clearly defined political
boundaries and territories where political protection insulates
them from the reach of the security forces.”