A woman was beaten Tuesday morning for reportedly failing to follow rules she claims were put in place for persons living on the 'Gaza'.

"Mi really need some help so that somebody can do something about this," the woman, Mercedes, said with tears in her eyes as she sat down for the interview.

Mercedes lived at 59B Mannings Hill Road, referred to as Big Yard and 'Gaza' for the past eight years.

"Everything was fine until them start come in here setting rules and regulations," she said, while noting that it began early this year.

Mercedes said the residents in the area are not allowed to fight, have arguments or play Mavado's music. In addition, she said, persons entering the area have to turn off their headlights.

She said she disobeyed one of the rules when she got into a fight with another woman because she wanted to use the bathroom in the tenement yard about 9 a.m. For fighting, she was beaten by two men.

Immediately after, she went to the Constant Spring Police Station, where she gave a short statement but 'blacked out' after. The police took her to the University Hospital of the West Indies where she received several stitches in her head and hand. She also had major bruises on one of her breast, her legs and hand.

very emotional

The police confirmed the incident, also noting that she was beaten with a baton. They are currently looking for Leberth McDonald, also known as 'Laing', in relation to the incident. However, they could not confirm if it was the same 'Laing', Vybz Kartel refers to in a few of his songs.

After treatment, she went back to the police, made a statement and returned home. Then, the two men returned and kicked down her door but she hid in her kitchen. In hiding, she called the police, who returned to pick her up. Attempts to find the men have been unsuccessful.

"Mi caan stay dere now 'cause mi get di police involved and dem seh mi a informer. Mi mother go down there fi go fi mi son and dem threaten her and run her out of di lane," Mercedes said, while noting that she has been staying with a friend since then.

"Somebody even call mi from private number and a seh mi caan come back down deh so. Mi a go dead 'cause mi a informer," she said.

The interview got very emotional when she made reference to her six-year-old son.

"But mi baby still up there. Mi waan go fi mi baby. Him up there with mi cousin. Dem seh him nah eat, him a fret 'cause him used to see mi everyday," Mercedes told THE WEEKEND STAR, bursting into tears.

"Dem capable of doing anything. So, I don't even know. Dem will do anybody anything. Dem don't think before dem act. People deh deh weh nuh like it but because dem fraid fi dem life dem nuh waan talk. Di only person can talk to dem is Kartel and him need to talk to dem."

THE WEEKEND STAR tried to get in contact with Vybz Kartel for a response but was unsuccessful.

Mercedes said she does not blame Vybz Kartel but believes he urgently needs to speak to the men. She also noted that since the incident in the area last month where the tourists were beaten for playing Mavado's song at Rampin Sundays, Kartel has not been visiting the area as frequently.

*Name changed by request

source: http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20091023/news/news1.html