Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Students at the Holy Family Primary School in central Kingston head home after school. According to Cecile Palmer, principal at the school, attendance improved since a recent cese-fire in the area. - File

Rival gun gangs in the hotbed of central Kingston have called a 'cease-fire' and, over the past week, have been seriously involved in a series of round- table talks, with a view of ending the bloodletting which has transformed the community into a ghost town.

"Since the cease-fire, the attendance at school has significantly improved," principal of the Holy Family Primary School, Cecile Palmer, disclosed yesterday.

Poor attendance

According to her, of the more than 1,000 students enrolled, 854 turned out for classes last week, while 91 out of 140 were present for classes in the infant school. She said, prior to the 'cease-fire', the attendance was at an all time low. Some fearful parents have since moved their children from the school and had them enrolled elsewhere.

"We had to call in experts to counsel traumatised students. Of all the shooting incidents, there is one that will always stand out in our minds, it is the recent shooting of a past student. He is 13 years old and chances are that, based on the injuries, he might never walk again," said Palmer.

In dialogue

Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, who is overseeing the constituency on behalf of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), told The Gleaner Tuesday night that he has been in dialogue with the Member of Parliament, Ronnie Thwaites.

"Some meetings have been taking place and the factions will continue to meet," said Mckenzie.

Political Ombudsman and Chairman of the PMI, Bishop Herro Blair, said members of the PMI have been visiting the area.

"We have gone to Southside and Tel-Aviv and both sides are blaming each other," said Blair.

But while this is happening in central Kingston, the police are struggling to put a lid on the gang feuds in sections of Payne Avenue, Kingston, Waterhouse and August Town in St Andrew.

Deputy Superintendent Michael Phipps said the police have saturated the trouble zones of Payne Avenue and Waterhouse.

"This morning we found an M-16 rifle during an operation in the Waterhouse area. The problem is between men from Lyrics Corner, Sundown and Drewsland," said Phipps.

Strong presence

Meanwhile Senior Superintendent George Quallo said his team is maintaining a strong presence in August Town.

"Apart from two days last week, when he got reports of explosions in the 'Jungle 12' area, there has been no reports of violence," said SSP Quallo.

glenroy.sinclair@gleanerjm.com