Trench Town

In Bob Marleys infamous Trench Town, we meet the kids who risk their lives every day to get to school. The constant turf wars, battle for control by the local dons and the fact that police are out-gunned, make this a real life tragedy of Hollywood proportions. Through the childrens outlooks, aspirations and fears, we enter an otherwise no-go area.

Every morning as I rise, I hear the gunshots firing says Leroy. His school is on the borderline between the two warring factions of Trench Town. They just fire shots indiscriminately, these guys are killing for fun he tells us as we follow his walk to school. Brightly coloured shacks that look ready to collapse house over 25 000, army tanks and car bombs litter the dusty streets and Bob Marleys face smiles out from a billboard, pock-marked with bullet holes.

Were living in a warzone says Sergeant Robert Taylor yet we dont have the tools to overpower the gangs. It is well known that politicians armed the local dons in the 60s in return for votes- the two main political parties, the JLP and the PNP, have been at loggerheads ever since. Politicians had an interest in having people fight each other for scarce benefits explains Blakka, who left Trench town when his house was burnt down- theres no jobs, theres no money, Ill kill to maintain that access to the little there is.

Having grown up in this turmoil, the youths are now the ones with the guns in their hands. The age range for the most dangerous gangs is 14-25 explains Sergeant Taylor, these kids have grown up with no hopes and nothing to live for. Many had to leave school because of the shootings and were drawn into the only other means of survival. Those kids searching for food, searching for someone to take an interest in them are the ones who end up pointing a gun at you says Delroy, a teacher.

Yet theres hope amidst this almost impossible educational environment. I want to study law says one student I want to publish my novel says another, I want to be a flight attendant says Shanice as she wipes away her tears. A powerful glimpse into the reality of life in Trench Town, through the eyes of the children who are gearing to change it all.

Category:

• Documentary
• News

Tags:

• trench
• town
• jamaica
• bob
• marley
• violence
• gang
• police
• death
• documentary
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[1Rozmac]

We need to elimate JLP and PNP and start a new political party called UNITED PEOPLE OF JAMAICA UPJ.

[lovevslust4life]

this just break my heart i can beleive that this is mi sweet sweet jamaica this is bullshit

[buttersow]

Rastas, baldheads, JLP, PNP. Jamaica unite!

[woodhavenblvd]

The Jamaican government created all this.

[tigerbaiter1]

They f*ck their brains up with drugs and they wonder why nothing functions.

[viper174471]

@diago205 PNP 4 true

[chicheater1]

why are the fighting? cannabis bushes are everywhere

[misspricey14]

It is so sad that in such a beautiful country and in the 21st century governments just sit back and let this poverty and violence happen it seems unbelievable.God bless the people of Trenchtown I know I could'nt live how they do enough respect to them.

[flexmilitant]

We all know how, why and where the guns comes from. The DONS work as the political mules for the politicians. The guns come into the country from places like America, same is happening in Mexico. The corrupt politicians know who is sending out the killers. All the politicians have blood on their hands. We all know the truths. The politicians can distance themselves as much as they want. We know the truth. Bob said- "Back them up, not the brothers but those who set them up."