By YOLANDE GYLES, Staff ReporterTHIS IS PART two of an exclusive interview with George 'Pepper' Phang, Arnett Gardens community leader and manager of the Arnett Gardens football club.
Since Good Friday, Arnett Gardens, popularly called 'Jungle', has been tense as factions in the community have been screaming for Phang to leave the area. This he says he will not do.
In part one carried in the Thursday STAR, Phang put to rest rumours that he played a role in the April 2001, murders of Black Roses crew leader, William 'Willie Haggart' Moore and Albert 'Blacka Douche' Bonner.
Phang also denies having any role in the recent murder of Shocking Vibes director and Beenie Man tour manager, Paul Tyrell.
He also spoke of the Good Friday murder of his friend Anthony 'Chuncie' Folkes, which he said still hurts.
Today, Phang tells his side of the current struggle in Jungle, which threatens to ruin the peace that has reigned in the area for sometime.
PART TWO!
Phang explained that the breakdown in the relationship between him and Patrick Roberts, president of the Arnett Gardens football club, had its genesis in a series of differing opinions. However, the two have met and are trying to patch things up.
Another conflict he would like to have resolved is the current unrest in Jungle, which may have started with last year's attempt on his life. "Is 18 bullet me get inna my own community," Phang said of the botched assassination which took place on March 13, 2003.
Remembering that night's events he told THE STAR: "Mi and Walter Boyd did just leave football practice and we seh we a guh pon di corner and play some domino. We up deh and bout three games play an' den me hear pow and me see a white cyar coming towards wi and a pure gun shot. Who could run, dem run and me lef' pon di groun'."
Phang says he was conscious of everything that was happening around him even when he was taken to the hospital. Now, the scars of that vicious attack are evident looking on his scarred right hand. Phang plans to travel to Cuba soon for further evaluation on the hand.
Along with the physical evidence of the attack, is the emotional toil it has left on him.
"When it did just happen, yuh hear rumor bout is TG (Tivoli Gardens) man dem behind it. But dat is not true, TG man nah come inna Arnett and do dat. Is man inside Arnett, man whe me know and talk to do dat. In fact dem did a have a dance a TG and when dem hear bout my shooting, as a mark of respect dem cut it."
Phang adds that the peace that now exists between the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) stronghold of Tivoli Gardens and the People's National Party (PNP) enclave of Arnett Gardens was because he decided to put an end to the long standing feud.
"One day me decide seh me a guh dung a TG and mi tell few a my baller dem. And dem seh no Pepper nuh go and mi seh mi a guh. Dem, dat is Everton Bunsie, Eugene Barnes and Denton Sheddon, seh dem a come wid me. Me seh no mek me guh and if mi nuh come back unnu know seh di Gideon dung deh. But dem seh dem a come. And we go and di welcome we get inna Tivoli man, ah never dem hurt me, me know that."
Despite the attack, Phang says he has never retaliated. "God spare my life for a reason and mi not supporting no violence. Me leave all vengeance to him. Mi get 18 shot, mi hold it down, mi keep di peace, and now dis."
Phang says the persons who are now behind this disquiet are persons who do not like the way he has been handling the community. "We set up Arnett in a way dat anybody can come into the community and it safe. We set up Arnett so that is zero crime, zero violence and dese guys dem don't want that."
He further points the finger at a group of American deportees, who he says have ulterior motives for starting an uprising in the community. "Them want to be able to do them wrongs, and we not allowing it, is peace we a defend."
Phang adds that the few troublemakers do not live inside the community. "They are on the outskirts, dem don't live in Arnett. Dem is some guy whe don't have no shoes, don't even have chicken feed fi give fowl and dem doing dis foolishness."
He vehemently refutes allegations that Tony Welch, former leader of the Jungle Posse, is also behind the recent 'uprising'. "Me nuh tink dat is true. Right now Tony is a big man, him not defending certain tings again. Plus me and Tony is family, is my 'brother-in-law' and when him just come back (from the United States of America) him tell me seh him like how me deal wid di community and ting. So me nuh believe that."
No problems
Similarly, Phang says there are no problems between himself and Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Omar Davies.
"Dr. Davies is a man whe deal wid upliftment, him have great plans for the development of the area and is a man whe me respect to the core. Me and him nuh have no problems."
Phang also refutes claims that the recent flare up has anything to do with current construction going on in the community.
"I am not involved in dat construction. I don't have anything to do with it. People seh I am 'don' so I must be in it. Mi nuh know whe dat come from, I am not a don. Dat nuh deh pon my birth paper. Dis don ting, people independent to think and act di way dem want. If there is a problem people share it with me and if I can help, I help."
"Bwoy there must be a gold mine inna Jungle whe me nuh know bout mek people a bring war. Dem tings deh fi done man it haffi stop."
Conjecture aside, Phang just wants the community to go back to the days of peace. "Wi cannot mash up our ting, see it deh wi have a lovely sports complex and if dis continue it will become a luxury."
And he maintains that he is not leaving the community. "Is deh suh me born and grow, is deh suh my family live and mi not leaving."
