Light after death

Residents of Denham Town in west Kingston received a massive upgrade of street lights in the community last week, a move some residents welcomed but believed came a little too late following the murder of three-year-old Jace Pinnock and his father two weeks ago.

The macabre slaying of the two and the wounding of Jace’s eight-year-old sibling is being noted as the tipping point – the catalyst for the erection or repair of some 40 defective and non-existent street lights that left residents in the dark and vulnerable at night.

Dellon Gayle, councillor for the Denham Town Division, explained that the street lights were erected by the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and formed part of a raft of community outreach activities in the wake of the incident that sparked public outcry.

“We are trying to give the community that sense of upliftment after what happened, trying to help lessen the [traumatic] impact of the incident,” Gayle offered last week, adding that the initiative includes a community play day for the youngsters, some of whom were jolted from their sleep by the explosions that rocked two of their friends, killing one and his dad.

At least two of the three men wanted by the police for the incident have turned themselves in, Gayle said yesterday, even though official confirmation from the police was not immediately available.

“Since Saturday, the member of parliament (Desmond McKenzie) would have come in and, from there, he and I would have undertaken various initiatives. The Jamaica Public Service is here renewing the lights that were out for a while and pruning some trees, so persons can feel a sense of safety,” he said, noting that some streets were “jet dark”.

Pockets of darkness

One of the most well-lit areas in Denham Town is a community recreational park which has flood lights. But those lights are turned off late in the evening, leaving pockets of darkness where the shine of household bulbs stop short.

While some street lights were in need of repairs, others were either tampered with or damaged due to illegal electricity connections from residents in the area, Gayle said, rebutting suggestions that weak political representation was responsible for the residents’ dark predicament.

The brazen attack that claimed Jace’s life occurred in the wee hours of the morning and, at the time, a defective street light was reportedly near his home. It was not clear if the darkness was advantageous for the perpetrators, but that light was also remedied, Gayle said. He noted that it brings relief to Jace’s neighbours, some of whom are still shell-shocked by the sound of the fatal explosions.

Last week, days after the news permeated the community, Jace’s classmates at Edward Seaga Primary School cried openly as teachers, staff and parents – also crying – paid tribute to his short life around a photograph and flowers on his desk. A senior member of the community said it was a pity it had to come to that, pointing out that Jace’s death was the latest in a slew of attacks, and that the street light concerns were not new.

“The place has been tense from Christmas and Desmond (McKenzie) didn’t pay us any attention. But, because of the baby (Jace), everybody wants to make this a publicity stunt, doing what should have been done long time,” charged the community member, who asked not to be named.

“This thing a come from Christmas Day, when they killed a youth at the treat right in front of the pickney dem .... [who] a bawl and a scream, and nobody said or did anything,” he outlined impassionately. “There was a football competition for the under-14 youths on Ash Wednesday... one barrage of shooting start, [gun] fire and running up and down... still, nobody did anything. Until that culminate in dem going to kill the little baby and the man now.”

“If it wasn’t for the baby they wouldn’t do anything,” the community member continued, listing a string of shooting incidents, including one in January where men tied to Jace’s killing allegedly chased and shot at a man who got away after he ran into the protection of soldiers nearby.

Unlike in previous rivalries, where gangs from Tivoli fought with men from outside of Tivoli Gardens, the latest onslaught is internal, amid a faction known as ‘Easy Scream’, he said, claiming that men are being imported from outside the community and that the feud is being fuelled by criminals from overseas.

Mourine, an elderly Denham Town resident, explained that without the street lights, sections of the community are unbearable at nights.

“It is very dark and because of it, we were praying long ago to see the street lights fixed. That way you can have more clarity seeing who is walking on the road.

“So I am very happy about it. There are some areas I never saw in the community before and now I can see straight across. So it makes me feel and walk more comfortable now,” she remarked, while still rebuking the attack on the boy and his family.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com