Spice Upset With JDF Soldiers Over West Kingston Fracas
Video footage of two women in West Kingston, attempting to engage in combat with Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers, while being cheered along by community members, prior to being checkmated by the army men, have been met with contrasting reactions from Dancehall artists Spice and Stacious.
In the first incident, in which a section of soldiers appear to be arresting a man in the Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO), a woman is seen sauntering around the patrol vehicle in which the man was placed. In a combative manner, the woman is seen muscling her way toward one of the soldiers and proceeds to point in his face.
After being shoved away by another soldier, the subject of her attack joins in and shoves her. The young man, who was being detained, is seen jumping from the patrol vehicle, into the melee, but the soldier in a countermove, responds immediately, whacking him repeatedly with the butt of his rifle, then storming after the fellow who hurriedly flees to avoid further beating.
Spice, in resharing the video to her Instagram page, expressed disagreement with the response of the soldiers towards the woman.
“I’m always very careful with certain videos that I post from my country because I hate to showcase Jamaica 🇯🇲 in a negative light on my platform, yes I obviously see that this woman was upset about who ever was in the Jeep, but these Soldiers should learn to subdue without brutal force , these soldiers who was beating this woman with the riffle gun should be ASHAMED of themselves , what a disgrace to your , Mother, sisters or daughters if any 💔 STOP TREATING GHETTO PEOPLE THIS WAY…,” she said.
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Spice was in for an awakening though, as most of her followers expressed disagreement with her stance, arguing that the woman and the man had provoked the soldier to wrath, and should have been prepared to face the consequences, as, while civilians are protected from military brute-force, they lose this protection during any period in which they take a direct part in hostilities.
Spice responded to one comment, a rebuke from unruly_sher, who pointed out that she was setting double standards.
“Kmt y the other day when the ghetto ppl dem did a kick up that soldier u never post it kmft ❓❓❓the man have nothing to be a shame abt if she have any respect for herself she would have acted like a lady ghetto r no ghetto @spiceofficial,” the follower wrote, referencing an incident which occurred a few weeks ago where a civilian in one of Kingston’s inner-city communities kicked a soldier twice, following which the army man was jeered mercilessly by cheering onlookers, for not retaliating.
“@unruly_sher My mother don’t act like this but if Soldiers a try lock me up she probably would act worst just make sure you Keep the same Energy when it’s your mother getting beating with a riffle Gun ✊🏿,” she wrote.
However, the follower was undeterred and told Spice that since she was in agreement with the woman’s actions, she should replicate her behaviour whenever next she encounters members of the JDF.
“@spiceofficial, lol😂😂 tnx for replying but if my mother think she is above the law with a ghetto ppl story and tek boost to put her hand on a soldier then that is that. A respectable woman would have deal with the situation in the rite manner #mymom‼️,” she told Spice.
“Soldiers r train to kill so if it’s all ok go ahead and do the same c if the spice name cn save u. Lucky a never shot she get .the question still remain why u never put up the video when dem did a kick the soldier the other day⁉️” she declared before adding: “@spiceofficial hope it’s nt your mother getting the next riffle beating r the females in your family feel like u above the law smfh. Getting up everyday talking abt ghetto this n that as on excuse to do wrong. When the man a tell the woman to put hand in the soldier face nobody say anything… this y Jamaica will never better because the energy is used in the wrong department”
Hours later, after the outcry from her fans, Spice removed the post.
Stacious on the other hand, was of a different mindset from her musical compatriot. In responding to a Star video of a young woman repeatedly stepping beyond arms-length and challenging a soldier, apparently to a duel, in which the soldier checkmated her, slamming her with his rifle and then aiming a kick at her, she said that she had noticed a pattern where women were the ones confronting male soldiers.
“This so sad. In most recent scenarios mi notice the resistance and aggression is coming fr females …. Dem figure “oh mi a woman so him caa lick mi”……expecting to be treated as gems and not acting as such is ridiculous. Smh,” the Jamaican Spirit artiste said.
While Stacious was applauded by some commenters, one reader said she did not agree, as the fact that the women were seemingly underprivileged and probably did not know how to conduct themselves properly, their conduct could be overlooked.
“These are your fans it’s our society it’s our Jamaica but you are all against the abuse of women but because these are poor boisterous not so pretty women your comment. Sad what our country has come to these are still mothers still female kids live what they learn some of these people have never passed spanish town it’s the same way these men treat there women there behavior is not lady like don’t mean we should abuse them…,” she said.