The head of the Jamaica Army, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, yesterday described the Jamaica Labour Party West Kingston enclave of Tivioli Gardens as the "the mother of all garrisons", as he defended Tuesday's joint police military operation in the community, in which police and soldiers said they were in pursuit of men wanted for the killing of three cops earlier in the year.
By Erica Virtue
At the same time, Lewin, the chief of staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, pointing out damage to a helicopter in Tivoli on Tuesday, warned that soldiers would respond against any such attack in the future.
Yesterday, the JDF chief of staff said he had carefully monitored commentary, reports and expert opinions, following Tuesday's operation in the community, and it was his view that "they represent a combination of truths, half- truths, propaganda, disinformation, misinformation, ignorance and downright lies.
"In short, you can deny it as much as you can, you can rationalise it as much as you want; Tivoli represents the mother of all garrisons. The garrison machinery is well-oiled, super-effective and to those who are in the business of creating and maintaining garrisons, it must be the envy of all other garrisons," Rear Admiral Lewin said.
The army chief was addressing reporters at a press briefing at Up Park Camp, the JDF headquarters, following criticisms of its operation with the police in Tivioli Gardens, in which four persons were shot and injured.
It, however, remained unclear last night who shot the four.
The security operation has been condemned by the parliamentary representative, Bruce Golding, who is also the leader of the Opposition.
Golding claimed that attempts were made to assassinate him, while he, along with Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie were in the community, on hearing of the security operation. Councillor McKenzie represents the Tivoli Gardens division in the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation.
Both were said to be in breach of the curfew, and police officials said they are weighing the options of arresting them.
Lewin said Tivoli Gardens excelled in every single trait associated with garrison communities, some of which he listed as:
- Politically aligned, giving covert/overt support;
- postured to defend the community from rival gangs and deal with break-away factions;
- will defend against/attack 'low level' security forces intervention;
- allied with other garrison communities of the same political leaning;
- co-ordinate criminal activities with other similarly aligned communities;
- Infiltration by security forces extremely difficult, well-armed and violent;
- have early warning system to alert community;
- not averse to using women and children to shield gunmen during the conduct of law enforcement type operations;
- have organised and well-funded criminal leadership; and
give strong support to community leaders, gangs.
Meanwhile, Lewin, responding to questions on why the disclosure that the helicopters had taken fire had been made so late in the day, said the JDF saw no reason in advertising to criminals that they were successful in damaging JDF property.
However, he left little doubt that there would be a response to any future attacks.
"We have a response.which under the appropriate circumstances will make firing at our helicopters a dangerous undertaking for those who wish to do so," he declared.
