By GLENROY SINCLAIR, Staff ReporterTHERE WAS HIGH drama in the Matthews Lane community of West Kingston yesterday as several men who were allegedly chased out of the area by strongman, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, returned to assume leadership of the turf.
It is alleged that some of the men were armed and were seen in the vicinity of Matthews Lane/Beeston and West streets. They dispersed before the police arrived in the area.
Deputy Superintendent Delroy Hewitt of the Denham Town Police Station said the police would put measures in place last night to prevent any possible confrontation.
Residents who spoke with THE STAR yesterday said the men were seen speaking with factions from the area, sending a message that in the absence of the community leader, Mr. Phipps, they will be returning to "run things".
Mr. Phipps, who is scheduled to appear in the Corporate Area Criminal Court today on charges of two counts of murder and illegal possession of firearm, has been in police custody for over two weeks. He was arrested and charged by Operation Kingfish.
According to residents, over the past five years a number of influential men, some of whom were once trusted lieutenants of Mr. Phipps, were chased from the community because they fell out of grace with the area leader.
Last September, one of the men who was chased out, was at the centre of a bloody feud between warring factions from the People's National Party-controlled Matthews Lane and the Jamaica Labour Party enclave of Tivoli Gardens.
More than six persons were killed and several others injured. At one stage the head of one of the victims was cut off by men who had invaded a funeral home in the area and was paraded on a pole.
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