Claude Mills, Staff ReporterA THRIVING extortion racket estimated to involve millions of dollars is slowly crippling businesses in sections of downtown Kingston, investigations by The Gleaner have found.
But even with their businesses on the edge of collapse, many business people remain tight-lipped about the practice, apparently afraid of retaliation by armed thugs.
"Nobody has ever admitted paying any extortion money. I would do my best to help in whatever I can in a confidential manner but if no one talks, you can't help them," Mr. Laurence Heffes, of Heffes Sales Co. Ltd. said.
"I personally have never been approached by anyone for money. I have a good relationship with the community, and I would encourage those with complaints to report them confidentially to the JCC", (Jamaica Chamber of Commerce), Mr. Heffes said.
Others have not been quite as fortunate.
"You have to give. It is understood that it is in your best interest to give something back to the community," a business owner said.
"They may disguise it as a community building effort, or some charity for the 'youths of the area', but in the end, you have to give either cash or merchandise."
And if you refuse?
"They either burn you out, rob or kill you. I know several business people who have been the victims of arson, who have been intimidated or shot over the last couple of years. Extortion has always been around, from the '70s, but it is big business now because these guys are armed ... and dangerous. The situation is volcanic now."
The police have admitted that intelligence reports indicate Chinese immigrants who have set up businesses in downtown Kingston are often the favourite targets of the extortionists.
But, the police say, there have been no complaints from either the Chinese immigrants or Jamaican business people.
"The New Chinese, not the Jamaican Chinese, are a big part of the problem. They are docile. They see Jamaica as a stepping stone to head off to Canada or wherever, so they come here just to make some money to leave. Further, what they experience in Jamaica is paradise compared to what happens in their country, so they just put up with it. Some of them are followed home and robbed, but don't even bother to report it," an irate businessman said.
Efforts to get a comment from some of the Chinese immigrants in the area were futile. They denied paying any extortion money, but the wry smiles on their faces told another story.
Most local business owners contacted denied paying "extortion money", but admitted that they gave to "various community projects".
"What else are they going to say? A lie dem a tell. Everybody is paying, people have been doing it for years," a policeman from the City Centre police station, said.
"Some gladly pay the so-called dons because they feel they can get things done, while the police is bound by rules and regulations. If they go to the so-called don, he may be able to get your goods back so they don't rely on the police."
Crazy figures
According to the police, street-side vendors sometimes have to pay as much as $500 a week, while businessmen fork out as much as $5,000 weekly. A businessman said he had heard crazy figures such as "$40,000 to $50,000 per month."
"Most times, the men doing this simply use the names of Zekes or Dudus to intimidate them, but ... these guys know nothing of what is going on."
A vendor who sells close to the Portmore depot confided:
"Is not really extortion really; dem just ask for a 'dues', a small contribution like $200 to the community centre, or something. They collect the money in a black scandal every Saturday. You pay according to your ability or conscience."
One man was arrested for extortion on August 11 this year of a well-known businessman in the area, and his case is before the Corporate Area RM Criminal Court at Half-Way Tree.
"The man went there several times, and one Saturday, he refused to leave until he got some money, then he became boisterous and attacked the businessman. The police were called, and the man was held," a policeman said.
The police contend that they are powerless to do anything about the extortion racket unless people begin to take a stand.
"Nobody wants to go to court. We know it is going on, but they (the businessmen) seem to have no problem with paying. They simply use fear as a reason to do nothing," a policeman said, speaking to The Gleaner on condition of anonymity.
A member of the Chinese Benevolent Association added:
"The criminals do not just target the Chinese immigrants alone, but other Jamaicans as well. The ones I know who have been robbed have reported the matter to the police but the police don't follow through. They are not docile, they work hard to get ahead. I ask them if they pay extortion money, they say no; I believe them."
Confidential sources say that in many downtown areas the security forces rarely carry out normal policing duties, and private security firms are loathe to serve in the area.
A source estimated that the hundreds of businesses and higglers targeted, may pay up to $400 million annually; and there are additional expenses.
Many businesses can no longer take delivery directly from their trucks because some streets are blocked with vendors. They have to unload down the street and then pay handcarts to complete the deliveries.
In addition there are calls every week for businesses to finance funerals, medical and other personal expenses for friends of the extortioners.
