News

On the record with GEORGE PHANG

By YOLANDE GYLES, Staff Reporter

Walter Boyd, left, poses with George Phang. - File

"MI NAH FORSAKE my people and mi nah betray my people," said George 'Pepper' Phang as a warning to those who want to see his back in the Arnett Gardens community.

Phang, an Arnett Gardens area leader and manager of the Arnett Gardens Football Club, spoke with THE STAR from his St. Andrew home in an attempt to set the record straight on a number of issues, particularly recent murmurs from factions within the community who want him gone.

Matters came to a head on Good Friday when Anthony 'Chuncie' Folkes, a long time friend of Phang's, was shot and killed. His murder shocked and hurt Phang.

"Him was a good man, is nuff people him help inna dat community. All di day when dem kill him is bun and cheese him did a give out and dem come kill him," Phang said of Folkes.

"It (Folkes' murder) hurt me man. It hurt especially fi know di day whe dem choose to, a holy day, di day when dem crucify God dem come wid dis kind of ting."

Another man, Andrew 'Cessface' Laing, was stabbed to death that same day.

Since the two men's murders, the community has become tense and graffiti on its walls screaming "Phang leave now", explains some of the tension.

Death is nothing new to Phang, several of his friends have been cut down in the past ­ some of the killings he was alleged to have played a role in.

However, Phang, a successful businessman in his own right, denies being involved in any of them, especially those of former Black Roses leader, William 'Willie Haggart' Moore and Albert 'Blacka Douche' Bonner.

Both were murdered on April 18, 2001, at the infamous Black Roses Corner on Lincoln Road in Arnett Gardens.

"Is like a dagger jook me inna me heart when me hear seh dem kill Willie and Blacka. Me and them was brethren, ah me grow Willie so me nuh know how dem can have it seh me involve inna him murder," said Phang.

He has also heard his name being bandied about in the recent murder of Shocking Vibes director and Beenie Man tour manager, Paul Tyrell.

Tyrell was shot dead at the intersection of Springvale Avenue and Constant Spring Road on February 24.

"Me woulda love fi know what a man do me why him a go call up my name inna dat. Because is mus guilty dat person guilty of doing me something that him woulda call up my name, seh is retaliation," Phang said.

Phang intimated that the relationship between himself and Shocking Vibes CEO and president of the Arnett Gardens Football Club, Patrick Roberts, was strained at best.

Tomorrow: Phang speaks about the factions in the Arnett Gardens Community.