News

READY FOR WAR

BATTLE LINES HAVE been drawn, the war flag has been hoisted and guns are rearing to go.

This is what residents in the neighbouring areas of St. Andrew, where dancers Bogle and John Hype have strong alliances, say is the talk on everyone's lips since yesterday when Bogle was killed.

The residents say an all out war is expected as men from both sides have sworn to wipe out each other in retaliation of the killing and the bombing of Hype's house.

Bogle was shot dead at a service station on Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew yesterday by gunmen travelling on motorbikes. a few hours later, Hype's home on Dillon Avenue, a few metres away from Bogle's residence on Black Roses Corner, Lincoln Avenue, was bombed.

No one was hurt in that incident.
"Nobody from round there can't come round here and nobody from round 'ere ca'an go round dere," a resident from Lincoln Crescent told a STAR news team yesterday. "Anybody come cross a pure gunshot; dem bwoy deh fi dead out and bun out," another resident added.'

The Lincoln road residents swore revenge. They did not limit their revenge to Hype alone, but other men "who him parr wid."

Make blood run

They say they are prepared to make blood run for their hero as despite "what difference Bogle had with dem, we coulda start shoot long time, but is just music. Now gunshot is the only music dem gwine hear."

The men at the section of the area where John Hype is from, are convinced that he is innocent but hinted that they are willing to defend themselves if push comes to shove. They pointed out that the men who bombed his house could have killed someone innocent as even if he is in a friction, his family is not.

Late yesterday, Beenie Man's record company, Shocking Vibes, announced it is offering $1million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Bogle's killer(s). Mark Johnson, Bogle's publicist said the reward was decided after a meeting with Beenie Man, Patrick Roberts, Ice, John Hype, members of the Black Roses Crew and other members of the entertainment fratenity. "We are certain that rumors that Beenie Man and John Hype are responsible for this have no basis,' he said.

The minute the news of Bogle's death hit the area, the police began making preparations to prevent any retaliation. A curfew has been imposed in sections of the area in an effort to prevent an escalation of the brewing war.

Tension high

"The tension is high down there and so we have to put measures in place to ensure that nothing happens. We have spoken to them (the residents), the Member of Parliament has spoken to them," deputy superintendent Delroy Hewitt, in charge of operations at the Kingston Western Division said.

The curfew extends along Rousseau Road, Lincoln Crescent, Lincoln Avenue to the south, Beechwood Avenue to the east, Anthony Road and Ransford Road to the West and Dillon Avenue to the North.

DSP Hewitt said that while they hoped the residents will heed their pleas for peace, the police will continue to closely monitor the situation. "We can only hope, but in the meantime we can only put things in place to ensure that nothing happens," he said.