Denham Town residents want ‘Bigga’ Ford out

The residents were protesting justice in the aftermath of the senseless killing of 14-year-old Jaziknee Cole who was shot dead on Wednesday afternoon at Tulip Lane in the volatile community.

They are accusing Ford of taking sides in the ongoing feud between former cronies from Denham Town and Tivoli Gardens who have now locked horns.

“Bigga Ford must go,” one placard read.

“Bigga Ford a take side,” another read.

The residents say they were better served by Senior Superintendent Steve McGregor, who was transferred to the St James Division from West Kingston last year, much to their chagrin.

“We want McGregor,” another placard read.

The community has been under the gun in recent months as gunmen engage in a tit for tat war. More than a dozen persons have been killed and several others injured in the conflict.

Police have blamed remnants of a gang once ruled by the iron fist of former Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher “Dudus” Coke for the recent round of violence as they are engaged in a power struggle for the lucrative extortion racket in downtown, Kingston that rakes in millions of dollars monthly and enables them to have an endless supply or arms and ammunition.

The gang was splintered after the May 2010 incursion and police say they are trying to regroup and reclaim former turf but are being resisted by elements in the neighbouring community of Denham Town who want to free themselves from the years of subservience to the more powerful Tivoli Gardens faction.

“They are not as strong as before but they are willing to go to any lengths to get back that power and money earning capacity. Anybody who disagrees with them are targets. They are not afraid to engage the security forces either. It is a power struggle among the criminal element,” one police source said.