S.O.E. Declared to Address Gang Warfare in Lake I

Chester Williams

ComPol Chester Williams justifies why the state of emergency is needed. He breaks down that feuding gangs within the Lake Independence area have been responsible for seven shooting incidents over the past few weeks; two of which claimed the life of Darien Banks and Alrick Smith.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The shooting of the three young men from B.L.C.; that was done by a gang rival. Subsequent to that, we had the murder of Banks; from all indication, rivalling gang. Then the shooting of the other young man on Vernon Street – I don’t remember the name right now – that again was a rivalry. The shooting of Alrick Smith, even if it is an inter gang rivalry, it is still a gang rivalry. Within that short space of time, we have a total of three, four five six persons shot – two of whom died. All of these persons are from the Saint Martin’s area, which shows that there is an intense rivalry within the Martin’s area between the feuding gangs. I can’t understand that the chairman of the U.D.P. can say that there was no need for the S.O.E., but yet the Leader of the Opposition is asking for police security. If you don’t believe that there was a justification for the S.O.E. or that there is any gang rivalry going on, then why do you want security?”