For once the thugs in two downtown Kingston communities are using their 'powers' for good.

Thugs from Denham Town and Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, have found a unique way to encourage students from their communities to do well.

'Orders' have been given that children are not to be seen on the streets any time after 8 p.m. If they are seen and are not able to give a 'valid' excuse, a beating is imposed.

THE WEEKEND STAR learnt about the development while visiting Denham Town earlier this week. A resident, Carol Allen, was heard questioning the whereabouts of her six-year-old daughter. "A afta eight now. Mi naw go look fi har eno. A want di man dem si har an drop some lick pon har yu si," Allen said.

Subsequent checks revealed that information about the 'curfew' was relayed to residents sometime last week just before the start of the new school year. Since its inception parents have stated that they have no problem with it and are complying.

"... Not a ting nuh wrong, as long as dem nuh beat dem fi mash dem up too bad ... . It help more than anything else cause di school pickney dem kno' seh dem fi stay off a road when a school time an do some schoolwork," said Marvin Shepherd, a resident of Tivoli Gardens and a father of two high school students.

Pickaxe stick

So far, the residents say that there have been no cases of children being beaten as the curfew is being adhered to.

"When dem man yah set order a nuh joke ting so di kids affi tek it serious and dem know... Nobody nuh get 'regulate' yet ... cause di man seh is a pick axe stick dem ago use pon anybody who violate," Shepherd explained.

Embrace the move

One of the thugs chosen to help enforce the curfew also testified about its effectiveness.

"Wi done send out di word, so any pickney who think seh dem too big fi follow it or feel seh dem uncle or big bredda or whoever a thug suh wi naw go trouble dem, mek a sad mistake ... If dem cyaa gi wi nuh proper talk as to why dem deh pon di road late, lick ago drop inna dem skin," he said.

The police say they are aware of the curfew activities and have even heard of it in Sunlight Street, in the Maxfield area.

Head of operations for the Kingston Western Division, Deputy Superintendent Aurthur Brown, told the WEEKEND STAR that the police have embraced the move.

"I've heard of it and it's something we don't mind as we don't want the kids on the streets after certain hours," DSP Brown said.

A corporal at the Denham Town Police Station noted, however, that the instructions might not only serve to motivate the children to do well in school, but also to protect them as the community is involved in a conflict.

"We have heard of the encouragement part of it, but there is also a current war between men from Denham Town and men from Rema, so we think it also serves to protect them," the corporal said.