Jamaica’s dons represent a contradiction. Community leaders and criminals

Jamaica’s dons represent a contradiction. To be feared and respected at the same time. Community leaders and criminals. The don of Tivoli Gardens allows Passa Passa the weekly dancehall night to take place in an area often in the grip of gang warfare . One time when I was there, an army truck filled with armed soldiers passed through which was a little surreal.Now even the government are having to recognise their power. With the continued rise in the crime rate and with government policy fast running out of ideas, the Public defender Earl Witter has suggested including the dons in the consultation process to sort out what to do about it