29 / 494
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activity, using its political relationships to exploit corrupt opportunities in the
public sector, especially in the construction industry. - See Harriott p.237.
Tivoli Gardens in 2010
2.35.
Tivoli Gardens is located in the South-western quadrant of the
capital city of Kingston. In 2010 it was estimated to have a population of
approximately 10,000 persons. Like many other urban inner-city communities,
Tivoli Gardens suffers from the problems of unemployment and under-
employment. SSP Hewitt, in a memorable phrase, stated that his experience
impelled him to the view that in Western Kingston –
“There is a cadre of uneducated, unemployed and
unemployable young people.”
2.36.
The combination of these structural features constitutes a
challenging set of risk factors which may reasonably predispose to youth violence
and street gang involvement. And these are compounded by access to illegal
firearms and evidence of material success via criminality. Coke, to be sure, was
a symbol of criminal success.
2.37.
Building upon the observations of the Public Defender cited above
at para.2.25, we heard evidence of the accomplishments of the community in
sports, the arts, local health care provisioning and educational upliftment of the
youth. This observation was strongly endorsed by Mr. Phipps in his
memorandum to us. The community takes pride in the achievements of its
young people. These achievements would hardly have been possible if there had
not been, among many persons, adherence to the core values of the society and
cultivation of virtues which conduce to success by conventional means.
2.38.
It was manifest, from the evidence presented to the Commission of
Enquiry, that the community of Tivoli Gardens is cohesive and its members have