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3.43.
And Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Leon Rose, observed
that, from 18 May, there was “a tremendous mobilisation of criminal elements
into Tivoli Gardens”.
“A number of blockades sprung up at all entrances to Tivoli
Gardens, on Marcus Garvey Drive, Industrial Terrace and
others.”
Demonstrations on 20 May and Accelerated Fortification of Tivoli Gardens
3.44.
Some 600 women, mainly dressed in white, took to the streets of
West Kingston on 20 May demonstrating against execution of the warrant on
Coke and pledging their loyalty to him. Placards exemplified the esteem in which
these women held Coke: “Without Dudus, there will be no Jamaica”; “Next to
God, Dudus”; “Jesus die for us, we will die for Dudus”.
3.45.
On the same day, the barricading and fortification of Tivoli Gardens
were accelerated. The entrances to and the exits from the community were
blocked. We were shown a large number of films and photographs of the
blockading of Tivoli Gardens up to 23 May 2010. CoP Ellington’s witness
statement neatly encapsulates the nature of the barricading -
“The barricades were constructed from old vehicles, old
appliances, heavy equipment, scrap metal, sandbags and
other solid materials. Several of the barricades had
explosives embedded in them, with trigger mechanisms
operable from inside residences. Road blocks were also
mounted in other Corporate Area communities where gangs
aligned to the Shower Posse had their bases.”
3.46.
We saw evidence of propane gas cylinders within the barricades
and on a roadway. Barbed wire was used to block access to a street. Spanish
Town Road was blockaded to prevent access to Tivoli Gardens. Near Darling
Street, the access way to the community was heavily blocked. The sandbags
referred to by CoP Ellington were used not only as blockade reinforcements but
also as firing positions. The films and photographs, taken by the National