In a time where not many would dare to attempt leadership, one man from Tivoli Gardens is coming forward to express his interest in filling the shoes of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

The character, Mr Man* who is a well-respected member of the west Kingston community, says he is waiting for the right time to take on what he admits will be a very dangerous feat.

"Everybody see what a gwaan inna west Kingston so yu know is a dangerous thing fi even think seh yu a guh run di place. But when things cool down and the time right, supn' might gwaan," Mr Man said as he sat just in front of his Denham Town home, puffing on a ganja 'spliff' while a group of men nodded their heads in approval.

Residents had previously indicated that they felt that Coke's younger brother, Livity, would have taken up the community leadership position. However, any realisation of these expections, even if there was any merit to them, would have been spoilt by the fact that the younger Coke is now facing time in prison after recently being slapped with a number of criminal charges including shooting with intent, illegal possession of a firearm and wearing a Jamaica Defence Force uniform.

Mr Man who didn't want to share any of his personal information, spoke with affection about west Kingston as he explained how it would hurt his heart to see the community go back to the way it was before Dudus.

The man who claims he has lived in the community all his life said it can become quite dangerous there.

Hero

"Mi spend all my life inna west Kingston and down yah can be a real wicked place and believe mi, it was like dat but a Chris (Dudus) come mek di place a run good and people can walk road anytime a night and sleep wid all dem door open. One time yu couldn't try dat. Everybody have dem own perception of di man, but mi watch him grow up and trust mi, dem man deh a hero," he said.

He continued: "Dem yute deh mek everybody know seh a love wi a deal wid inna west Kingston. Few years ago a whole heap a bad vibes did inna di place, man from Denham Town and Tivoli inna war, all dem likkle things deh, mi really and truly nuh want it go back to that 'cause it a guh bloody."

Asked if he thinks he can garner enough respect to follow in the footsteps of Dudus, Mr Man simply said: "Yuh nuh hear mi seh mi watch dem yute deh grow? Mi grow up inna west Kingston too! Mi and him father use to link tight, mi use to bad inna my days so respect a di least a di problem."

According to him, while the community is now safe, thanks to the police, once they start to limit their presence, thugs who fled for other areas during the recent military incursion will return.

Once that happens, he says, all hell will break loose and this is where the guidance of a well-thinking, mature character will have to come into play.

"Mi affi easy now 'cause di Babylon dem (security forces) deh 'bout but yu see once certain man get di chance fi come back inna di place, a nuh any and anybody a guh can gi dem chat. Dem a guh come back wid a vengeance," he said.

Residents with whom THE WEEKEND STAR spoke seemed also to support Mr Man's leadership aspirations. They also say when the police leave, a peaceful person will be needed to lead, a quality Mr Man possesses.

"Right now, this can be a time for the community to change but is a difficult process. The police have to be here like everyday for it to happen. If that nuh happen, then a next don is going to rise and if that should be the case then we a guh need somebody who can maintain peace. Dat man is a big man in the place so it don't sound like a bad idea," one 34-year-old female resident of Tivoli Gardens said.

Meanwhile, the police say they are yet to pick up on anyone in particular who wants to take up where Dudus left off.

Head of the Kingston Western police, Deputy Superintendent Arthur Brown, when asked yesterday for his advice for anyone who wished to take up the leadership only said: "We haven't picked up on anyone in particular but we would think there are persons who would want to take up the role," he said.

Name changed upon request..