The build up
Published:Tuesday | May 24, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
ON SUNDAY, May 23, 2010, a Gleaner team observed a large convoy of Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) vehicles - including armoured trucks - with soldiers heading into Kingston along Michael Manley Boulevard as the police appealed for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to turn himself in and urged women and children to leave the Tivoli Gardens.
Obviously getting word of the large movement of soldiers, the thugs started reinforcing barricades.
A minivan - which was in a garage to be repaired - old refrigerators, washing machines, bathtubs and a skip were quickly pulled into the usually busy roadway, forcing motorists to beat a hasty retreat.
sentries on patrol
As if that were not enough, the militants positioned sandbags at the two sides of the barricade and dumped sand into empty fridges and bathtubs.
At the same time, men on foot patrolled the area with what appeared to be high-powered weapons, while others stood guard atop nearby buildings.
By Monday morning, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington was declaring that the security forces would respond in an appropriate manner.
"It is now clear that criminal elements are determined to launch coordinated attacks on the security forces," Ellington said in a statement.
"The JCF wishes to advise the public that these attacks are unprovoked and coincide with our efforts to lawfully serve the public," he added.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding also condemned what he described as the "calculated assault on the authority of the State" and vowed that the security forces would use deadly force in a limited state of public emergency to counter thugs who had wreaked havoc on the capital.
"Let us make no mistake. The threats that have emerged to the safety and security of our people will be repelled with strong and decisive action," Golding said.
battle cry
The battle cry from the security forces came shortly before midday on Monday, May 24.
A broadcast on the police radio system indicated that loud explosions would be heard in the downtown area but members of the force should note that this was the start of an offensive led by the JDF.
Within minutes of that announcement, the boom of the explosions could be heard for miles around the Corporate Area and persons in downtown Kingston reported that buildings shook as if a massive earthquake had struck the island with its epicentre in Tivoli.
By mid-morning when gunmen attempted to storm the Central Police Station, the order was issued for the police and soldiers to use deadly force to repel the criminals.
A short while later, a massive deployment from the JDF was seen on Harbour Street with soldiers taking up strategic positions.