According to Trevor Munroe, there is an "evolution from the individual gangs to criminal enterprises with transnational linkages and ultimately to registered businesses attracting state contracts."

Critical roles

Colonel Trevor MacMillan, in a recent Gleaner interview, recalled that sources informed him that when the Kingston Public Hospital was being refurbished the two strongmen from both sides of the political divide played a critical role in the project.

"When Kingston Public Hospital was being refurbished, I did not have any inside information, but I know the facts, Dudus and Zekes, they made some good money off that. Why? They were supposed to be the security. Security my hell!" declares MacMillan who was commissioner of police when Seaga submitted the names of alleged criminals.

He charged that politicians were reluctant to get to the root of the problem.

The second stage of the evolution of gang leaders, according to Munroe, is the control of communities primarily through terror, to control mainly through handouts.

"They have moved to paying the school fees, providing school books, lunch money - from terrorists to patrons," he asserted.

He said the third stage of the evolution is from a don, hated and feared, to a don, supported and revered.

Munroe describes the fourth stage as the "most dangerous", noting that it moves from control by politicians to paralysis of the politician and the final stage is control of the politician.