Over 2 million people visit Jamaica every year. Tourism is Jamaica’s largest source of foreign income. But Jamaica also has a side most foreigners never see. People live in extreme poverty throughout Jamaica, but nowhere is this more evident than in the town of 12 Trench, Kingston, very close to the city centre. Four-story apartment buildings run parallel to the community, and here and there are boarded-up sheds, fenced in rust-coloured zinc and covered with thatch.
One might think these houses are deserted, but they actually house far more than they were designed to do. Today, approximately 25,000 people live in Trench Township, a community that has been intentionally abandoned by the government. Gun crime and shootings between rival gangs and the police are very common. Trench Town is immortalized by the music of its most famous resident, Bob Marley. Thanks to Bob Marley, people all over the world have heard of Trench Town, but very few foreigners have been there.
Due to its particular history, the town of Trench is divided into different “districts”, each with its own leader. It is the war between these hostile territories that makes the town of Trench one of the most dangerous places on earth. There are shootouts every night. How do ordinary people live in such a destructive climate? The police are powerless in the streets and they keep getting involved in shootings with many innocent victims in this crossfire.
Trench Town wasn’t always as brutal as it is today. It was originally built in 1945 as a government housing project with little investment since. It’s hard for older residents who remember how beautiful the city once was. Today, much of the town of Trench is collapsing. It’s hard to maintain dignity when you’re living in such a harsh environment, but the people who live there take great pride in their community.
Directed by: James Ewart
