"The Police Was Forced To Strike A Compromise With Gang Members" - Says Former Police Commissioner

Former Police Commissioner Owen Ellington said, after at least two attempts to form a youth club in the former garrison community of Tivoli Gardens, the police were forced to strike a compromise with gang members.

Ellington was giving evidence at the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry for the fifth straight day and, while being drilled by attorney representing the residents of Tivoli Gardens Alexander Williams, he made the revelation.

“We tried on occasions to form a youth club but it was resisted by the gang. We had to make a compromise and named the youth club, the Presidential Click Youth Club,” Ellington said.

The commission is charged with enquiring into whether the rights of persons were violated in the May 2010 Tivoli Gardens police-military operation to capture Christopher ‘Dudus” Coke, who was wanted on an extradition warrant by the US.