Oops! The shit is about to hit the fan in Jamaica

[malaise]

http://wireupdate.com/local/u-s-state-department-issues-travel-alert-for-jamaica/
<snip>
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- The United States on Friday issued a travel alert for Jamaica on developing security concerns in the Kingston area.

The Department of State said "possibility exists for violence and/or civil unrest in the greater Kingston metropolitan area. There are unconfirmed reports of criminal gang members amassing in the Kingston area, as well as mobilization of Jamaican defense forces."

"If the situation ignites, there is a possibility of severe disruptions of movement within Kingston, including blocking of access roads to the Norman Manley International Airport. The possibility exists that unrest could spread beyond the general Kingston area. U.S. Embassy Kingston is taking extra security precautions," the Department of State added.

U.S. citizens in Jamaica were advised to monitor local news reports and consider the level of security present when venturing outside their residences or hotels.

The travel alert expires on June 21, 2010.

[SoFlaJet]

1. you forgot to put a Mon

after Jamaica in the title mon

[monmouth]

2. Cruise ships all over the place also...n/t

[virgogal]

3. Jamaica has been "iffy" for quite a while.

[donco6]

4. Anti-gay fervor has kept Jamaica off my list forever.

This just further solidifies it.

[katzenjammers]

9. Good point, it's getting to be like Uganda.

:puke:

[Jamastiene]

56. Yup. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

5. Mal, should we be concerned? nt

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[malaise]

14. If all your best beaches were locked off from you

I don't think you'd welcome those who enjoy them. It never used to be this way when our beaches were public. Now our coastline has been captured by neo-liberalism and coastal peeps have been displaced and many are unemployed and angry.
Our people aren't slime. You may want to take that back.

[laughingliberal]

22. How dare local populations ruin our vacation spots?

:sarcasm:

[malaise]

24. LOL

:evilgrin:

[unapatriciated]

25. That is what bothered us when we visited in '97

We stayed at Jack Tar, all but two beaches were closed to the public. In comparison to where we were from (CA) where the vast coastline is open to all.
Americans would never put up with that, yet expect other countries to give up their own land for our private indulgence.
Hope all is well with you. Lame54 and I were discussing you last night, on how you are one of our favorite posters here on du.

[thelordofhell]

30. Open to all.........really?

So how are the beaches at Malibu?

[unapatriciated]

31. Great!! I should of stated majority have public access.

I grew up in so cal and walked for miles on some of the most beautiful beaches. Yes there were some without public access but if you could get to them you could walk them.

http://www.malibucomplete.com/mc_geography_beaches.php
Here is a list of Malibu beaches, east to west from Santa Monica to Ventura County Line. All beaches in California are public property "seaward of the mean high tide line". That means you can walk on the most exclusive private beach if you stay in the wet zone and do not trespass on private property. In some areas there are public walkways down to the beach with easy access. In other cases you have to go around private fences and ignore intimidating signs to gain your rightful access to the beach. Make sure you don't stalk or harass anyone while you are there -- that's illegal even on a public beach.

When we lived in Dana Point, we walked all but a small area from laguna to San Clemente (there was a section in Laguna that was difficult to get to). Some did not have public access from the road but you could get there by following the coast line.
Laguna was the best, you could take your dog on the beach (on leash) from September to June.

[thelordofhell]

33. It is cool to do the beach walk

Although some of the people think the "own" the beach.

[unapatriciated]

35. sadly yes.

That's the problem in Jamaica. When we were there we walked a long stretch of coastline starting at where we were staying and nobody bothered us until we reached the sandals resort. Security Guards made us leave we couldn't even use our kayak in "their" waters.

We moved to GA four years ago and I really miss Cali Beaches. Hope to go home soon.

[alphafemale]

51. The barrier islands do interrupt that long coastline. lol

I lived in GA for years. Some of the uninhabited barrier islands are absolutely gorgeous if you can get to them.

Also, GA is very unfriendly to dogs on the beach. Pretty much, "No Dogs - Not Ever" SC, which is where I am now, is a bit more lenient. Most allow dogs on leash at least some of the time.

[unapatriciated]

55. We did get to Tybee Island.

We plan on visiting SC beaches soon.

[alphafemale]

59. The Hilton Head Island beach is +10. You don't even have to pay to park.

Hunting Island is the next one up. Absolutely gorgeous, it's a state park, so no hotels or condos. There is something like a $4 entry fee. But well worth it.

[malaise]

48. Thanks

You know that all beaches in Barbados are public - they understand reality.

[WeDidIt]

7. Isn't this about some extradition effort by the US?

Fill us in malaise.

[donco6]

10. Dudus

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-Remove-roadblocks--handover-Dudus----beg-police

[malaise]

12. Yes this is all about Dudus

and the stand off between the government and the State Department.
Dudus is the son of Showers Posse leader Lester Lloyd Coke (Jim Brown). Showers Posse trafficked in coke, ganja and guns and have been accused of over 1500 murders in the US. He is wanted for human trafficking, drug and gun running.
The posse is from Tivoli Gardens which was Seaga's constituency and is now the current Prime Ministers. Dudus inherited the spoils and is alleged to be continuing the operations.

Rather than follow the treaty and extradite him, they sought to lobby the US government using Manatt Phelps and Phillips and dragged this out from AUgust of last year. A huge row developed when the opposition exposed (in Parliament) that the government hired the firm to try to prevent the extradition. Eventually Golding confessed that the party and not the government hired Manatt (a serious legal problem). Golding continued to argue that there was something wrong with the extradition order (while lobbying for the community Don).
The majority of the country has called for the Prime Minister of resign for lying to the country and defending his area Don over the citizens of Jamaica.

On Monday Golding agreed that the Extradition Order would head to court here and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Meanwhile over in the community there are road blocks, etc. preventing the police and army from picking him up.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Police-photographs-of-Tivoli--Denham-Town--fortifications--

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/

The island is at a complete standstill waiting for something to happen. Word is that there is a US warship in the harbour.
This should be a very interesting weekend.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/

[Angry Dragon]

8. Maybe the people of the world are just

getting tired of all the bull shit that gets handed to them............

[malaise]

49. That's true in general

but this situation is slightly different.
There's a great interview with the former police Commish on the extradition mess. His comments are the icing on the cake for this Prime Minister.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100522/lead/lead1.html
<snip>
FORMER POLICE Commissioner, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, dropped a bombshell yesterday when he declared that the highest echelons of the force had indeed authorised a constable to give United States authorities wiretapped information on alleged gang lord Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Lewin's revelation contradicted months of insistence by the Golding administration that John Doe - the mystery cop - had operated without state sanction.

Responding to questions at an RJR news forum, Lewin dubbed the anonymous cop 'Constable Red Herring', an apparent jab at the Government, suggesting focus on the constable was a distraction from the major issue: the charges of drug trafficking and gunrunning by Coke.

-------
We either sort this out or become a narco-state

[suffragette]

11. You ok over there, malaise?

What's the impact on the people there?

:hug:

[malaise]

16. We're fine

and safe.
Thanks for asking.

The impact is 'fear' everywhere because everyone expects the city to explode over the weekend. The police have been very patient in terms of not breaking down those barricades because those men have loads of heavy weapons and there will be a bloodbath whenever they decide it's time to show that the state does not yield to gunmen.

[GreenPartyVoter]

34. Glad you are ok, but it sure sounds scary. :^(

:hug:

[suffragette]

37. Sounds tense and intense

Stay safe and I wish the best for you and all there.

Are there any people who have a chance at resolving the impasse peacefully?

[malaise]

52. I'm no longer sure

The alleged human trafficker, druggist and gun runner is from the Prime Minister's Constituency. He is also the Minister of Defence. He's been trying to prevent the extradition and is totally responsible for where we are now.

This can end simply - all Dudus has to do is walk into any police station with a lawyer.

[suffragette]

54. Do you think there's any chance he will?

I was reading a few articles that stated the barricades have been heavily fortified.
Sounds like if it comes to battle, it could be horrific.

On a completely different note, the involved parties have names out of a novel:
Christopher Coke
Minister Golding


What are your thoughts on Golding?

[Kahuna]

13. Be safe. My prayers are with you and your country folks.

:hug:

[malaise]

17. Thanks for that

This too will pass and the truth is that it is time to clean up the link with politicians, businessmen and druggists/gunmen. :hi:

[laruemtt]

15. how about montego bay out to ocho rios?

how is it in the north and the east? we're going there next week to see friends.

[malaise]

18. They are fine

This is a Kingston mess. There's even a major yacht race in Portland

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

19. Keep safe

:hug:

[malaise]

20. We will

:hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Take care of yourself

and do report back (as our media is useless) but don't take any unnecessary risks.

[malaise]

23. We aren't taking risks

believe me.

[dgibby]

27. Take good care of yourself.

We need you here at DU. Stay safe and keep us posted.

[malaise]

46. Will do

:fistbump:

[hootinholler]

39. Good!

I would hate to hear of your demise. But then again how would we know?

Stay very safe!

-Hoot

[malaise]

47. How would you know indeed?

It won't happen this weekend. :rofl:

[gateley]

26. Wow - I'm sorry but I wasn't even aware of this! Holding you in my heart,

malaise. :hug:

[Jeanette in FL]

28. OMG, Keep safe, malaise.

I had no idea that this was happening. Thanks for the links and the quick history. Of course, nothing about it on our State-Run News media.

The hotels in Kingston didn't want the patrons leaving the premises when I was there in February, telling everyone it was the wild, wild west out there. I can just imagine them now.

Glad to hear that you and yours are safe and taking the proper precautions.

The lovely Jamaican people do not need this.

[malaise]

42. Thanks

:hi:

[spanone]

29. be careful......

:loveya: :fistbump: :patriot:

[malaise]

44. We'll be following on radio and TV

definitely chilling this weekend

[thelordofhell]

32. Quick, get Peter O'Toole, Robin Williams, Twiggi, and Jimmy Cliff!!

Seriously though, be careful out there Kingston.

:hide:

[malaise]

50. I do like that movie

:rofl:

[PufPuf23]

36. Be safe Malaise. You are a fine poster at DU.

I worry about the Caribbean and Latin America.

This is time for change. So near yet so clouded to most USAians.

I am irritated today so I post where kindness and respect is what is lacking.

[malaise]

43. Thanks PufPuf23

We'll be fine - the poor innocent people in the city may not be so lucky.

[jpak]

38. Police and thieves in the streets

oh yeah

scaring the nation with their

guns and ammunition

[malaise]

41. Great song

:hi:

[carlyhippy]

40. Be safe, may all settle down soon in your beautiful country

I have been to Ocho Rios, Dunns River Falls...of all the places in the Caribbean I have visited, Jamaica is the most beautiful IMHO.

[malaise]

45. That's the sad part

The island is beautiful but there is an awful lot of ugliness.

[laylah]

53. Stay safe malaise

and do keep us posted :hug:

jenn

[proteus_lives]

57. The sex tourism industry will take a hit.

[Odin2005]

58. Stay safe, mon!

:hug: