5/27/10
5/25/10
5/23/10
Jamaica: Gunfire, fire bombs in barricaded slum
By DAVID McFADDEN, Associated Press Writer
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Masked men torched a police station and traded gunfire with security forces in a barricaded slum in Jamaica's capital Sunday, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency.
Sporadic gunshots rang out in gritty West Kingston where defiant supporters of Christopher "Dudus" Coke, a Jamaican "don" who is widely suspected of controlling gunmen in the Tivoli Gardens neighborhood, have transformed the area into a virtual fortress cut off by trashed cars and barbed wire.
In barricaded Hannah Town, close to Tivoli Gardens, black smoke spiraled into the sky from a police station set aflame by molotov cocktails.
Officers fled the burning station in impoverished West Kingston, where a 2001 standoff between gunmen and security forces killed 25 civilians, as well as a soldier and a constable
Jamaican media have reported just two wounded so far: a police officer and a civilian, both hit by gunfire.
Sunday's violence erupted following a week of ever-higher tensions in the capital over the possible extradition of Coke to the United States on drug and arms-trafficking charges.
After Prime Minister Bruce Golding reversed his long-standing refusal to extradite Coke, the alleged kingpin's supporters began barricading the streets and preparing for a fight.
Earlier Sunday, police urged the neighborhood boss to surrender, calling the heavy barricades encircling his slum stronghold a sign of "cowardice."
The U.S., Canada and Britain issued travel alerts on Friday warning of possible violence and unrest in Jamaica. Most islanders have been steering clear of downtown Kingston entirely.
The state of public emergency, limited to the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, will be in effect for one month unless extended or revoked by lawmakers, the government said.
Coke is described as one of the world's most dangerous drug lords by the U.S. Justice Department. He has ties of loyalty to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party and holds significant sway over the West Kingston area represented in Parliament by Golding, who stalled Coke's extradition request for months with claims that the U.S. indictment relied on illegal wiretap evidence.
Golding's fight against the extradition strained relations with Washington, which questioned the Caribbean country's reliability as an ally in the fight against drugs. His handling of the matter, particularly his hiring of a U.S. firm to lobby Washington to drop the extradition request, provoked an outcry that threatened his political career.
Coke, who typically avoids the limelight, has remained silent. He faces life in prison if convicted on charges filed against him in New York.
Jamaica's political history is intertwined with the street gangs the two main parties helped organize — and some say armed — in Kingston's poor neighborhoods in the late 1970s and 1980s. The gangs controlled the streets and intimidated voters at election time. In recent years political violence has waned, and many of the killings in Kingston now are blamed on the active drug and extortion trade.
But the Rev. Renard White, a leader of a Justice Ministry peace initiative that works in Jamaica's troubled communities, said Coke is a strongman who wields "enormous power" and whose followers are ready for violence if they think it is in his best interest.
"Clearly the government has to take a strong hand, but they must also tread very, very wisely so people are not hurt," White said. "But a lot of these guys in Tivoli Gardens, they are really pretty desperate."
Coke was born into Jamaica's gangland. His father was the leader of the notorious Shower Posse gang, a cocaine-trafficking band with agents in Jamaica and the United States that began operating in the 1980s and was named for its members' tendency to spray victims with bullets.
The son took over from the father, and expanded the gang into selling marijuana and crack cocaine in the New York area and elsewhere, U.S. authorities allege.
Lawyers for Coke — who in addition to "Dudus" is also known as "Small Man" and "President" — have challenged his extradition in Jamaica's Supreme Court.
Sporadic gunshots rang out in gritty West Kingston where defiant supporters of Christopher "Dudus" Coke, a Jamaican "don" who is widely suspected of controlling gunmen in the Tivoli Gardens neighborhood, have transformed the area into a virtual fortress cut off by trashed cars and barbed wire.
In barricaded Hannah Town, close to Tivoli Gardens, black smoke spiraled into the sky from a police station set aflame by molotov cocktails.
Officers fled the burning station in impoverished West Kingston, where a 2001 standoff between gunmen and security forces killed 25 civilians, as well as a soldier and a constable
Jamaican media have reported just two wounded so far: a police officer and a civilian, both hit by gunfire.
Sunday's violence erupted following a week of ever-higher tensions in the capital over the possible extradition of Coke to the United States on drug and arms-trafficking charges.
After Prime Minister Bruce Golding reversed his long-standing refusal to extradite Coke, the alleged kingpin's supporters began barricading the streets and preparing for a fight.
Earlier Sunday, police urged the neighborhood boss to surrender, calling the heavy barricades encircling his slum stronghold a sign of "cowardice."
The U.S., Canada and Britain issued travel alerts on Friday warning of possible violence and unrest in Jamaica. Most islanders have been steering clear of downtown Kingston entirely.
The state of public emergency, limited to the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, will be in effect for one month unless extended or revoked by lawmakers, the government said.
Coke is described as one of the world's most dangerous drug lords by the U.S. Justice Department. He has ties of loyalty to the ruling Jamaica Labour Party and holds significant sway over the West Kingston area represented in Parliament by Golding, who stalled Coke's extradition request for months with claims that the U.S. indictment relied on illegal wiretap evidence.
Golding's fight against the extradition strained relations with Washington, which questioned the Caribbean country's reliability as an ally in the fight against drugs. His handling of the matter, particularly his hiring of a U.S. firm to lobby Washington to drop the extradition request, provoked an outcry that threatened his political career.
Coke, who typically avoids the limelight, has remained silent. He faces life in prison if convicted on charges filed against him in New York.
Jamaica's political history is intertwined with the street gangs the two main parties helped organize — and some say armed — in Kingston's poor neighborhoods in the late 1970s and 1980s. The gangs controlled the streets and intimidated voters at election time. In recent years political violence has waned, and many of the killings in Kingston now are blamed on the active drug and extortion trade.
But the Rev. Renard White, a leader of a Justice Ministry peace initiative that works in Jamaica's troubled communities, said Coke is a strongman who wields "enormous power" and whose followers are ready for violence if they think it is in his best interest.
"Clearly the government has to take a strong hand, but they must also tread very, very wisely so people are not hurt," White said. "But a lot of these guys in Tivoli Gardens, they are really pretty desperate."
Coke was born into Jamaica's gangland. His father was the leader of the notorious Shower Posse gang, a cocaine-trafficking band with agents in Jamaica and the United States that began operating in the 1980s and was named for its members' tendency to spray victims with bullets.
The son took over from the father, and expanded the gang into selling marijuana and crack cocaine in the New York area and elsewhere, U.S. authorities allege.
Lawyers for Coke — who in addition to "Dudus" is also known as "Small Man" and "President" — have challenged his extradition in Jamaica's Supreme Court.
5/21/10
DEMARCO - WINE ME NUH GYAL (HOLD YUH RIDDIM) {MAY 2010} F.M.E / RICKY BLAZE
5/19/10
5/15/10
Massicker - If Ah Neva You (MAY 2010) VIRAL SOUNDS / RYMSHOT
5/14/10
DEXTA DAPS - HERE TO PARTY (SEANIZZLE PROD) MAY 2010
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5/12/10
Popcaan Performing Live 2010 Gaza Fi Eva Till Dead Do Us Apart Doh!!!Oh!!!Aohe!
Vybz Kartel, Shawn Storm, Popcaan ,Junior Reid & Di Hole Gaza Family
5/11/10
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Bencil - Hustling (FULL TIME RIDDIM) INNA MI HOUSE MUSIC
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/bencilgz
Terreance Wilson also known as"Bencil" is a 18 years old that was born and raised in Portland, Jamaica, in a little scheme called Fairy Hill. Bencil is a easy going person, a person who get along easily with others. i am very loving person. Am a past student at the Titchfield High School where i studied business. Titchfield High school, is where Bencil was inspired by friends who as the same love and passion for the music. I build a group called Graderz, in the year 2006. Graderz is a musical group which highlight great musical talent of each members. It is my real friends who give me the strength, and confidence to carry on in the field of music. I leave Portland to pursue my career in music, in the parish of Kingston on 04,August,2009. I saw Kingston as the place of opportunities where he could get the chance to show Jamaica and the rest of the world his potential. He began linking with Jessy and Mario Sanders, where he record 3 songs under their label; OD Music. i was then introduce to CD master, where i was now working along with the label Inna Mi House Music. Biggs, who is the superior of Inna Mi House Music, and CD Master sound, who believe in my talent and decided to show my talent to the people. Along my journey i have written a song for Mr Easy called "all about the Geez." the first song i ever composed for an artiste. i am on my way on a musical journey and will complete this journey, by doing hard work and being persistent.
Mavado and Assassin - unda yuh skirt (catalog riddim) May 2010
Assassin-Dem Sick {Catalog Riddim May 2K10 Di Genius Prod}
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