Golding peppered in 'Curry'
Published:Friday | June 11, 2010 | 12:00 AM
If Prime Minister Bruce Golding was in any doubt about the lingering anger in his West Kingston constituency, this was dispelled yesterday. He was peppered by hecklers during a tour of Coronation Market, popularly called 'Curry'.
Still, there was enough to encourage Golding that he could win back the love and respect of his constituents, as many came out to voice their support for him.
Golding has been the butt of many disparaging remarks in West Kingston since last month when the security forces ploughed through barriers in Tivoli Gardens to battle gunmen, leaving 73 civilians dead and several properties damaged during days of firefights.
On his first trip into the area after the bloody clashes, Golding's security detail barred the media from coverage.
Yesterday, journalists were out in their numbers as Golding returned to West Kingston. This time, he travelled to Coronation Market and not into the brain of the constituency, Tivoli Gardens.
"Mi nuh wah si Bruce! Them kill mi son!" declared a woman as she wailed despite efforts to console her by Desmond McKenzie, councillor for the area and mayor of Kingston.
"Bruce fi gwaan. Him abandon the people of West Kingston," declared one man as he was supported by others with unpublishable comments.
But the prime minister was stoic throughout and even engaged individuals who faced him with their concerns.
His message to them was clear: The Government is prepared to provide immediate assistance to those who suffered losses.
"A number of the vendors were complaining that they lost their goods because of the fire and all the dislocation. We haven't started delivering assistance, yet we hope to do that starting next week ... , so some of them were obviously distraught," Golding later told journalists.
Some in the crowd remained fervent in their devotion to Golding
"No PNP (People's National Party) can't get West Kingston and wi nah switch from Bruce. A Bruce wi seh," shouted a woman.
"A jus' through anger mek some people seh some t'ings, but wi get over it and a still Bruce wi a seh an' that straight," bellowed another woman.