The Shower Posse

The Jamaica "Shower Posse" started as an adjunct of political battles in Jamaica during the 1970's. For decades gang leaders lead Kingston's tough neighbourhoods, dispensing favours on behalf of political leaders of the People's National Party (PNP), and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

The political party winning an election determines how well a community is treated based on political party/gang affiliation. Jamaica was therefore divided by affiliation into what is referred to as Garrison constituencies. For example, Tivoli Gardens might be a homeground of The Shower Posse gang whose parliamentary representative is Bruce Golding.

The Garrison leader is referred to as a Don. Tivoli was once run by Lester "Jim Brown" Coke who later suffered an extradition order from the United States. His stepson Christopher "Dudus" Coke currently faces a similar order.

The Shower Posse's growth came out of the oil crisis of the 1970's, as it caused the Jamaican economy to go into a nose dive. It was the alleged drug gangs who helped eased some of the burden on the economy, through the exportation of drugs, particularly to the United States.

The Jamaican gangs were believed to be sending drugs to the US, and returning guns to Jamaica. Guns were also believed to have entered the island via the Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A) of the United States who at that time wanted the destabilization of the Michael Norman Manley lead PNP government, which was associating with socialist Cuba.

In 1976 Jamaican artist Bob Marley tried to bring together warring fractions of the JLP, and the PNP in a musical concert. The concert was scheduled for 5^th December 1976, however, gunmen stormed Mr. Marley's compound on 3^rd December. Bob Marley and others were shot.

Bob Marley who survived the shooting went into exile for 14 months, and then returned for a concert in April 1978 to reconcile the two warring fractions.

JLP's Edward Seaga, and PNP's Michael Manley were invited on stage to hold hands displaying unity. The idea though a good one, did not work.

Edward Seaga later won the 1980 elections, which meant greater power being given to The Shower Posse gang having JLP connections, to be then able to move some of their operations to the United States. The gang was believed to be smuggling drugs from Columbia, through Jamaica, to North America.

Jim brown is believed to had controlled the Jamaican operations of the gang at that time, whereas Vivian Blake, his associate controlled the US arm in the early 80's.

In 1989 the PNP took over the reins of government and with Mr. Michael Manley as Prime Minister. In 1991 an Extradition Treaty with the US was created and in 1992 Jim Brown faced an extradition order from the United States. He was arrested to be sent to the US to face charges. The day he was supposed to be extradited his prison cell caught on fire, and he died.

At his funeral Mr. Seaga (JLP) led the funeral procession through the streets of Jamaica, witnessed by some 35 000 individuals, and gave the eulogy.

In 1994 Vivian Blake was arrested for extradition to the US after fleeing authorities there and returning to Jamaica. He was extradited after protesting extradition orders for six years. Blake faced 62 charges in the US, and was later sentenced to 28 years in prison, but served only 8 years.

In January 2009, Blake then 52, was released from US federal prison and deported to Jamaica. On 21^st March, 2010 Vivian Blake died of a heart attack.

The Shower Posse is believed to be currently lead by Christopher "Dudus" Coke, who is the stepson of former leader Jim Brown. Christopher Coke is currently facing an extradition order by the US.

Dudus' arrest is currently pending as residents of the Tivoli Gardens area have barricaded the area, and have been involved in peaceful protest thus far dressed in white while trying to prevent the arrest of their Don, Mr. Christopher "Dudus" Coke.