Your musical preference could be a matter of life and death in Maverley, as warring factions in the community have aligned themselves to feuding factions in dancehall.

The Kingston 20 community that was rumoured to be a Beenie Man musical stronghold, is now feuding as to which artistes the community should support, the STAR understands.

It is rumoured that for sometime there has been some tension in the area between an existing don from 'bottom Maverley' and Ricardo 'Tristan' Palmer, friend of Beenie Man, from 'top Maverley'. Recently however Vybz Kartel, who left the Alliance and is being associated with Beenie, did a song giving props to Palmer. It was then, some residents claim, that those in the don's area started siding with the Alliance.

THE WEEKEND STAR became aware of the situation shortly after a dramatic shooting incident occurred on Campden Crescent (Maverley) on January 20. One man, identified as Jamar 'Bin Laden' Johnson was shot and killed by the police and Palmer was taken into custody for charges of shooting with intent at the police.

Investigating rival groups

Deputy Superintendent Michael Phipps, head of crime for the St. Andrew South police, affirms that they are conducting investigations into the two sides' connection with opposing music fraternities, but have so far found no evidence to implicate the musicians themselves.

"Our information suggests that one side favours Mavado and the Alliance, while the other is with the Beenie Man thing... This may have been the cause of the argument, but no evidence implicates the musicians. These are criminal gangs going against each other," said DSP Phipps.

Whatever the cause for the recent upsurge, the police facts are that it led to an incident in which a 'left hand man' of Tristan was shot at by members of 'bottom Maverley,' causing a gun battle between the gangs, wherein police intervened and engaged several men said to be aligned to Tristan in another shootout.

A resident visited THE STAR offices to 'clarify' why Maverley is currently divided between the two feuding camps. "The recent shooting come bout because Kartel record a song seh who a di real big man. It nuh reach road yet, but dem hear bout it and get vex and nuh want it come out," he said.

In an effort to confirm these disturbing reports, the STAR team visited the Maverley area, where conflicting views were shared with the media team. The consensus however, is there is definite tension between both areas of Maverley. Although the feud between the two sides is said to be long-standing, most agree that it has been reignited by the Alliance, Mafia House feud.

A resident of Campden Crescent, who is aligned to the now incarcerated 'Tristan', said that hours before the incident in which Palmer was implicated, men from 'bottom side' began an organised attack on the 'top side,' due to Kartel's song. He says when police came however, they went straight for 'Tristan'.

"Tristan dem neva involve an' police guh straight fi him. A kill dem would kill him too if him madder nevi deh deh... Some bad-minded people jus out fi di man true Beenie a lif' him up," said the resident.

But 'bottom Maverley' residents sang quite a different tune, regarding the now infamous incident as just one of many other kinds of 'trouble' the young men were causing in the area.

"Long time dem boy dem a keep up bear idiot ting inna di area...di man dem bus muss 30 odd shot from top side, dem nuh expect di residents fi sick a dem?" said a resident of Gremlin road.

An associate of one of the slated dons confirms that the two area leaders, that some describe as philanthropic Maverley businessmen, now strongly endorse the Alliance group.

Pointing to a dilapidated poster, he declared, "nuh jus ova Christmas pon di 23rd di don keep a treat an di whole a di Alliance deh deh...nuh boy pickney caan lock nuh Maverley, a di elder dem run it an dem big man deh nuh follow hype," said the resident.

Another resident confirmed that Bounty Killer and Mavado regularly visit Gremlin road.

Alliance member, Mavado, confirms that he and other Alliance members frequent the area, but clarified that he is not endorsing a war in the community.

"Mi hear seh Maverley split up 'cause a me an Beenie, but a jus di people a show mi love, an dem rate di Alliance, a nuh war ting," he said.

"A di people dem invite me come down deh. Wi plan fi deh deh fi bout ten minutes, an everywhere mi look more people a come out dem yard. Pickney come out, granny come out, gal come out...is jus two box (sound system speakers) dem we string up fi keep a dance to how di place full a people," said Mavado.

Mavado cited that in his time spent there, he spoke nothing but positive encouragement to the Maverley residents.

"Everywhere mi go, mi a preach positive to di youths, but when mi lef it cum like a negative mi guh seh...Mavado caan guh a garrison an dem (police) nuh seh a negativity mi deh pon, when a positive mi deh pon," he said.

Beenie Man could not be reached for comment.