Unrest in West Kingston, Ja., Claims Lives of 26 Civilians, 211 Detained as Medical Crisis Looms

The Jamaica Constabulary Force is reporting that 26 civilian have been killed and 25 injured in the unrest in West Kingston over the extradition of Christopher "Dudus" Coke to the United States. The report is the first confirmation released in response to the rising tensions in Tivoli Gardens and other areas of West Kingston.

According to the Jamaica Observer, the police said those killed were mostly males and their bodies were recovered from areas close to barricade, building entrances and gullies running through Tivoli Gardens. About 211 people, including six women were detained, the Jamaica Observer reports. Firearms and ballistic vests were among the items confiscated by law enforcement.

Medical crisis may be looming. See report from Radio Jamaica below:

There is an urgent appeal for blood as the spate of shootings since in the upsurge in violence in sections of the Corporate Area has depleted supplies at the National Blood Transfusion Service. According to Dr. Shane Alexis, President of the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association, the situation is dire.

“Blood is a necessary tool in traumatic injuries like gunshots and so on and we need blood urgently for transfusions to save lives." “Blood can also be donated at the Mandeville Regional Hospital (in Manchester) and the Cornwall Regional Hospital (in St. James) which would then be sent to Kingston,” Dr. Alexis said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Winston De-La Haye, President of the Medical Association of Jamaica, is expressing concern for the safety of medical staff manning the nations medical facilitates. Dr. De-La Haye said the situation was very serious.

“We are happy, willing to work and serve but are unable to feel safe enough to travel to work and unfortunately, the arrangements with the security forces aren’t’ such that we can feel comfortable that we’re being protected. This has lead to significant developments with our inability to get to work to offer the help, so those who have been there for, in some cases 48 hours, are exhausted but continue to do the best they can,” Dr. De La Haye said.

I can only imagine the stress the staff at Kingston Public Hospital is under. There will also be some fallout as the body count continues to rise, stretching the limits of the local funeral homes.

Read more: More blood needed | Radio Jamaica

Send us your pictures: blackpoliticalthought@gmail.com