Police in armoured vehicles, jeeps and patrol cars roamed through sections of downtown Kingston yesterday as rumours swirled that reigning Matthews Lane don, Donald "Zeeks" Phipps, had been given 48 hours to leave the area.
By Karyl WalkerThe ultimatum was issued ostensibly by one of his former strongmen.
Tension filled the humid downtown air yesterday as vendors packed their wares and some businesses closed early.
Phipps, surrounded by his supporters at Matthews Lane, was moved to tears as he told reporters that he had heard arguments that he was behind the death of a man who was murdered more than two weeks ago and buried yesterday.
"Is just rumours. Them say is me, them say is me son, but we don't know what them saying," the tearful don said. But still, he was taking no chances, he told reporters, as he puffed on his chillum pipe yesterday - his comments making it clear that any attempt against him would result in a full-scale clash.
"I still don't take it (the threat) light and although I believe in Jah, me not into the Jesus Christ thing because if a man lick me in my face me not going turn the next side of my face," Phipps said.
A relative of the murdered man - who the police say is a former Matthews Lane strongman who had fallen out of grace with his associates and is now assumed to be close to men from nearby Tivoli Gardens - is believed to have sent the threat.
But last night the leaders of both communities insisted that there was no bad blood brewing between the two areas.
"I can't promote war," Phipps said, "This is just rumours of war and I want peace to reign. I can't set up the youths to kill off each other."
The influential Tivoli Gardens resident, Justin O'Gilvie, also insisted that no feud would be erupting.
"We and Matthews Lane not into anything. The only thing we are into is peace," O'Gilvie said inside his office yesterday.
According to O'Gilvie, he had given assurance to "Zeeks" that Tivoli Gardens would ensure that peaceful relations are maintained.
"The peace has lasted for so long and it will continue," he said.
Divided by political tribalism, the two West Kingston communities of Tivoli Gardens and Matthews Lane were bitter rivals for over two decades. Matthews Lane is a pro-ruling People's National Party (PNP) enclave in a sea of Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) support, with Tivoli Gardens, fiercely loyal to outgoing JLP leader Edward Seaga at its centre.
But in recent years, with the rise of Zeeks in Matthews Lane and Christopher "Dudus" Coke in Tivoli, there has been relative peace between the communities.
Phipps shot to national attention after a three-day riot and demonstration erupted after he was arrested for attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and unlawful wounding in September 1998, forcing the police to parade him on a balcony. Phipps then used a police bull-horn to calm an unruly mob that had gathered in front of the Kingston Central Police station.
Two police officers were among four persons killed in that riot while eight others were injured.
In May last year, Phipps turned himself in to the police and was questioned for a few hours in the aftermath of a fire which had razed the Jubilee Market.
