Andre' Williams, STAR Writer

Residents of the south St Andrew inner-city communities of Boat Island and Union Gardens say children, 'puss and dogs' are living in fear, as gangsters continue their reign of terror in an ongoing deadly war between both communities.

Residents told THE STAR that the gangsters, over the last three weeks, have intensified their rivalry and increased gunfire regardless of daytime or night, firing shots for hours at times.

Information reaching our news team is that gangs have been waging repeated attacks on each other as they war for turf, carry out acts of reprisals and other reasons that were not clearly outlined.

A resident of Union Gardens Anita Cameron told THE STAR, "We done at a disadvantage because nobody done nuh business wid we back ya so, so di war ting a hold dung the place, dog fraid, puss fraid, pickney fraid, we fraid, the old people dem fraid so the place at a standstill."

She continued, "No money nuh deh but man and man can buy shot fi fire pan dem one another for hours, the killing and war fi done!"

When THE STAR visited the community recently, residents pointed to a path in an area overgrown with bushes that the hoodlums from both communities use as bypass to near on each other or enter each other's turf to do damage then make their escape.

Our news team was also told that this same path or 'trapy' as it is customarily called in inner-city communities, is used by children and majority of the residents in transit to and from the area.

THE STAR was told by residents of Boat Island that things need to change and battle lines erased.

A resident who declined to give his name said, "You tink it nice fi a see fear pan people face ... Man a run up and dung wid high-powered weapon in a broad daylight as early as di morning when the youths fi a go school, pickney afi a run back to dem yard ... When a man dead from either side or gun go missing, a destruction fi all a we ... We want it fi end."

When THE STAR contacted SSP Delroy Hewitt, who heads the division, he told our news team he was aware of the violence in these communities and said the police have curbed it to some extent because years ago it was worse.

The senior crime fighter said, "Yes, but this is nothing new, they have been having problems down there for sometime. Up to yesterday morning, shots were fired and the police were quick on the scene ... the problem that exits down there, the police alone can't solve, the residents need to help because they know the criminals."

He continued, "Is one man creating havoc down there and the police have been at him, I don't think he lives in a house, he is always in the bushes and that is where he reportedly carry out attacks."

When THE STAR asked why the police have not imposed a curfew, SSP Hewitt said, "A curfew is just a temporary measure ... If we lock it down, nobody can go to work and school ... A cordon and search approach would be more efficient and the police will have to know where to search ... At the end of the day these people need to do things for themselves as well because they know the gangsters ... I have been down there a week ago and I told them that over and over."