St Thomas communities fear wave of reprisals
June 25, 2008
RESIDENTS OF Grants Pen and Yallahs in St Thomas are fearing reprisal attacks after the murder of a well-known woman in the parish two weeks ago.
The woman is said to be the mother of a community strongman linked to the death of Cecil Riley, also known as 'Petrol', a month ago.
One woman told our news team that as many as 50 people have been marked for death.
"Me not even know if a tonight or even tomorrow night me a go dead," she told The Gleaner. However, she said she has no plans to flee the community.
"Forty-five years now me live here, so where me going?" the obviously frustrated resident said.
Power struggle
The Gleaner has been informed that the rift between the dons, who are both believed to be aligned to the governing Jamaica Labour Party, is a power struggle that may have been catalysed by a dispute between the two at a session on May 15, 11 days before Riley's death. Some say the dispute may have stemmed from a tussle for subcontracts at the Yallahs ford.
The woman's murder was believed to be in reprisal for Riley's murder last month....
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
