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PART A
Mobilisation of Gunmen
4.3.
After the announcement of Prime Minister Golding on 17 May that
the Attorney-General intended to sign the Authority to Proceed, the evidence
shows that there was a definite mobilisation of criminal elements both from
within Tivoli Gardens itself and from outside that community into it.
DCP Glenmore Hinds said that Intelligence received on 21 May indicated that
mercenaries from across Jamaica were recruited to join the gangs of gunmen in
Tivoli Gardens.
4.4.
DCP Hinds said in his witness statement:
“Intelligence was that men from several areas of Jamaica
were recruited into Tivoli Gardens, where they joined forces
with men from Tivoli Gardens and were patrolling the
community with high-powered weapons.”
4.5.
In oral evidence, he particularised that statement -
“Thirty men from one community – Rose Town – went in
armed with rifles and gunmen were being paid $30 000 per
person…. Other men came from Waterford, Mountain View
Avenue, May Pen and Clarendon and they were armed. We
instituted roadblocks and stop and search procedures along
Marcus Garvey Drive and Spanish town Road.”
4.6.
Capt. Garth Anderson of the JDF spoke of Intelligence suggesting
that between three and four hundred gunmen had been imported into Tivoli
Gardens. Their purpose was -
“to prevent law enforcement elements from entering Tivoli
Gardens and serving the extradition warrant on Coke.”
Capt. Anderson’s understanding of the sum paid to mercenaries was “$75 000 to
$100 000 to come to Tivoli”.