Last week it was the GSG, the George Street Gang that issued an unprecedented press release. Well today it was the SSG, the South Side Gangsters making the media rounds with their own press release.
This one is even more well written than the GSG's and quite a bit longer.
It says that there were no true representatives for the SSG at the truce talks chaired by the Prime Minister at the ITVET on Friday and Monday.
And the reason for that? We quote from the release:
"for the simple reason that (THE SSG) felt that the true objective was to only resolve the issues between the GSU gang and the George Street Gang."
It continues:
"We felt that it would not have been a real open floor discussion where we would have been able to voice our opinions, suggestions, insights nor issues with the "dominant" George Street Gang and their associates. We believe that it was simply a session where the PM and his people can come to an understanding with the George Street Gang," end quote.
They also reject a statement the police minister made on Channel 5 last night in which he said that the SSG representative at the meeting said their gang could take care of their own employment opportunities.
And that's because they repeat that there were no SSG members at the meeting.
Today we went by the SSG hangout on Ceasar Ridge Road - where they amplified the points made in the release"
Voice of Gang member
"Because we were not in attendance at any of the sessions for the simple reason that we felt that the true objectives was to only resolve the issues between the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) and the gang of George Street. We felt that it would not have been a real open floor discussions were we would have been able to voice our opinions suggestions, insights nor issues with the dominate George Street Gang or their associates. We believe that it was simply a session were the Prime Minister (P.M.) and his people came to an understanding with George Street. It had nothing to do with the Southside whatsoever; the Minister of police Douglas Singh said that, in his interview with News 5 on Monday September 5, 2011. On the part on their efforts in providing gainful employment, that certainly on the groups of the associated of the SSG, they said that they felt that they could take care of their employment opportunities. Who ever gave him that impression - this is indeed an none factual statement - who ever so call South Side Gang (SSG) representative was in attendance, who gave them such impression in not in fact as a South Side Gangsta. Definitely right now we are objecting to a lot of things, because first of all the media or the government in a whole like to deliver the wrong information to the people and this misguide the people in the process of doing it. If we want to deal with this issue and deal with this problem straight up and up front we need to be genuine with what so ever we are dealing with and they always make it seems like, we want to deal with problem, but it is like a charades, like a face on it. How can you ever say in the media that 95 percent of the people were at this meeting. When our half of the gang truce were not there at all, when one specific part is out and they lash out on you and you believe that everything will be alright pertaining to what they say. That happened so many times ago and you see where that failed terrible. For a fact we have Brick City, we have South Side for a fact that has always been neglected from day one. You have Rocky Road, you have Jump Street you have Kraal Road, you have Supal Street. Because the youth just want to do things because they fell like. They need a hand because they are crying out and trying to reach out to the system in some kind of way or the other just to get that genuine support, and if they will just use us like a political mascot to say well, we want to see change, we want better, you just cannot be calling for better, we have to deal with this thing from the root, because if you just represent one side, like I said, Dean Barrow, not to call any name, they support all of George Street, all of the other guys."
Marion Alley
"You say that on what grounds?"
Voice of Gang Member
"I say that on the grounds of facts that I know because I am from the South Side division but they were looking to...... I don't have a job from ever since. Boots Martinez is my area representative but it's has been three to four years now that I am running behind of him for a job. I just got a little hands out this morning telling me that probably I can get 3 days. I already everything will just be like a charades. We want to deal with the problem of this thing. The only ways we can deal with this problem is to reason with the youth, let us create a real forum and see what kind of solution we can bring about. We don't just want to hear about the negative, we want to hear about the positive also, because many of times when these funding comes in to deal with the South Side people, its only in our name we dont get nothing represented. Douglas Singh, the Commissioner of Police Mr. Jeffries and Minister of works the area representative Mr. Boots Martinez, we want all to listen to our concerns and suggestions. This meeting can be held at the Yabra Community Police building at Cesar Ridge Road."
The release adds that quote, "the South Side Gees stand and make note to the public that our Government and Reps of the Government are making their own truce with the George Street Gang. GOB is using the SSG's as their scapegoat to mend their relationship with the George Street Gang."
As noted in the interview, they want the the Prime Minister, and his senior police officials to meet with them at the Yabra Community Policing Building on Caesar Ridge Road, quote "at your earliest convenience if you mean real business in resolving the real issues on the streets."
So, what will happen? Police Minister Doug Singh today told us there was a prominent figure at the meeting who said he represented Kraal Road and the SSG.
CYDP Director Edward Broaster told us that they reached out to the SSG to attend the meeting - but at this time it is unclear who is their leader.
We note that the Gang's leader Andre Trapp was killed some time ago.
Minister Singh says a follow up meeting will be held tomorrow and they will try to get the SSG to attend as well as Jump Street - whose leaders are presently wanted by police.
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