Enterprise wants peace

While some residents supported a peace initiative hosted by the Islamic Front and started on Thursday, others criticised the move saying it was not genuine. The initiative saw participants including members of an alleged gang, distributing flowers and water to passers-by and motorists in Enterprise.

“Don’t bother with them, they saw death coming. Is only now because police and soldiers are around are we are feeling a little safer.

But we know the aftershocks.

It will come and when it does, it will be rapid. People are not living in peace here,” said Glenda Morris, 66, of Gittens Lane.

At present, residents said, there is a temporary respite from the murder and mayhem due to an increase in police and soldiers in the community. Speaking to media personnel on a tour with police yesterday, residents noted they were uncertain as to how long the peace will last.

Residents complained that gang members place restrictions as to where they can pass and not pass.

The constant sound of gunshots, followed by screeching vehicles have taken a toll on the health of residents especially pensioners. Many complained of sleepless nights.

“I am not afraid to speak out. If they want to kill me, then so being.

I done live my life already. I have no fear...

kill me. I ready to go because we are living in mess. You cannot walk the road, it is as though you done dead already (sic). I am not going any more funerals again, who dead, dead. I fed up of funerals,” Morris said.

Many youths from Enterprise did not want to go on the record with their names published out of fear of offending members of the two gangs operating in the community. Those will to go on the record, were pensioners.

Mavis Forbes, 85, of Manwell Street, praised the police and soldiers for visiting the area adding she wishes they visit, “every day and night”.

She recalled hearing a recent shooting death near her home adding she was unable to eat “for a while”. The elderly woman said she thought she was going to die that morning.

Asked if she has any advice for the young men in the area, Forbes responded: “Not me papa, I fraid them.

I don’t meddle with them.” Mother of five Michaelina Lewis, 40, of Dass Trace, said she has no ill-feelings towards gunmen who shot and killed her son Michael, 21, on January 21.

With the joint army and police patrol as well as the peace initiative, Lewis said she is optimistic of a better future.

“If God can forgive, who are we? I don’t have any ill-feeling towards them because of my relationship with God. I never wanted revenge.

My son was in the wrong place at the wrong time and his death rocked the community,” Lewis added.

Among the police and soldiers on the tour yesterday were ASPs Michael Pierre and Richard Smith, Insp Chunilal Bedassie and Lt Col Collin Millington.