Tempers are flaring among members of the notorious St Catherine-based Clansman gang following a dispute over the sharing of spoils from gang activities.

The reputed leader of the gang and a relative of a former don, who is deceased, are at the centre of the rift.

Investigations by THE WEEKEND STAR have discovered that a long-standing disdain between the two has now escalated to the point of war. This conflict has forced the present leader to leave his long-time home for another community in the parish.

The other man in the conflict is said to strongly believe that he should be receiving not just more money, but also more respect in the gang because of the legacy his relative left behind.

deceased relative

Reluctant to speak to THE WEEKEND STAR, he sent a message through another member of the gang.

"Look pon di trend weh him (the deceased relative) set ... . And man weh a him family deh yah and some man a gwaan like dem waa go roun di ting. A long time we a wait and now a time fi get wah due ... . Wid all di money and ting weh lef, dem man ya shoulda rich but instead a some other man a eat di whole a di food," the source reasoned.

Efforts to contact the leader were unsuccessful but a close associate admitted to the rift.

"Yea some man a gwaan like dem start a vibes yes but dem need fi know seh a ..... a di man now ... A him a govern di ting and a mek tings happen," the high-ranking member said before strongly advising THE WEEKEND STAR not to publish the story.

So far there have been several shooting incidents, including two recent deaths linked to the feud.

Last Friday, two men were shot dead after gunmen sprayed bullets on a group of men who were working at theLove Worship Centre, a church on St John's Road.

Head of the St Catherine North police, Superintendent Assan Thompson said the police have indeed picked up on the disharmony within the gang.

inter-gang conflict

"Yes we have picked up on an inter-gang conflict but cannot pin-point anyone ... We do know there is some conflict over leadership," Superintendent Thompson said.

As time goes by members of the gang expect that the tension among them will heighten, something the police believe will be beneficial to them and their aims.

"If they are fighting over leadership there will be a split and this will be more beneficial to the police ... Plus this is what we were working towards ... We are trying to displace the gang so this will do more good than harm," Supt Thompson explained.

The police recently pledged to dismantle both the Clansman and One Order gangs which are alleged to be wreaking havoc in the division.

The gangs are known to operate in and around Spanish Town, St Catherine but in recent times have spread their wings into other parishes.

The police said both gangs are suspected to be behind more than 100 murders committed in the division since 2002, the year in which they waged a war for the gains of an extortion racket in the municipal bus park in Spanish Town.