Neither the presence of dozens of police and soldiers nor the celebration of International Women's Day prevented two women from staging a fist fight over a man in Denham Town, west Kingston, yesterday.

The police and soldiers were in the community staging a massive operation in the wake of the fatal shooting of six persons in the area on Monday when the women clashed over the man with whom both women claimed they had an intimate relationship.

Members of the security forces, standing at the intersection of Charles Street and Pink Lane, were startled when two women started arguing just behind them.

"Hey, gal! Me hear say you deh wid me man," one woman accused the other, oblivious of the throng of lawmen around them.

"Yes! And a what? You no see seh him nuh want you," the other woman countered.

That answer angered the first woman, and in seconds, fists started to fly.

Stunned, the police and soldiers were slow to react, giving the aggressor time to deliver several blows to her "mate".

It took pepper spray from one member of the police force to dislodge the women who were kicking, biting, thumping, and snarling while rolling around on the road.

After they were eventually separated and placed in the back of a police vehicle, the full story started to emerge.

"Is yesterday me hear say she deh wid me man and me ask him, and him say nutten no go so, and now me ask the gal and she a come bright," said the aggressor, who was slightly older than the other woman.

pepper spray

"Is because me body better than yours. That's why you man look me and him say him no want you again," said the younger woman as she complained that her eyes were burning her either from the pepper spray or one of the many punches she had received to the face.

Despite repeated instructions from the police to end the quarrel, the two continued as the older woman claimed that she lived with the man who was supporting her and her son while the younger woman defended her right to "tek him".

The police had detained a number of men during the operation. The man at the centre of this dispute was said to be among the detainees.

"Officer, unnu have the wutless man in the van. Unnu don't let him out!" the older lady instructed as she threatened to "deal wid him" whenever she sees him again.

With the crowd, including members of the security forces, laughing and giving a recap of the two-minute fight, the women continued to glare at each other.

There was no comment from the man.

The two women were subsequently taken to the Denham Town Police Station, but up to late yesterday, it was not clear if they had been charged.