Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

Jamaican media sources describe the One Order gang as a "notorious . . . criminal outfit" (Jamaica Observer 20 Feb. 2013) and a "major criminal organisation" (Jamaica Gleaner 4 Oct. 2015). According to Jamaica Observer, One Order has been active since at least 2003 (Jamaica Observer 25 Jan. 2013).

Sources indicate that One Order operates out of Spanish Town (Jamaica Gleaner 4 Oct. 2015; Jamaica Observer 25 Jan. 2013), which is in St. Catherine's Parish (ibid. 31 Dec. 2015). Jamaica Observer specifies that One Order is headquartered in the Tawes Pen community [in Spanish Town] (ibid. 25 Jan. 2013). The same source notes that other communities that are strongholds of One Order are Ellerslie Pen, Dempshire Pen, Gordon Pen, Shelter Rock, Homestead and Chambers Lane (ibid.). Jamaica Observer also indicates that gangs in Jamaica have created "'franchises'" in other areas of the country, including rural regions, and that the One Order gang has a "'franchise'" in St. James parish (ibid. 13 Nov. 2015). Further and corroborating information about the operations of One Order outside of Spanish Town could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to Jamaica Gleaner, One Order is aligned with the Jamaica Labour Party (Jamaica Gleaner 4 Oct. 2015). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Activities

Jamaica Observer indicates that the One Order gang is involved in drug dealing and extortion (Jamaica Observer 31 Dec. 2015). Media sources report on cases in which alleged One Order members have been suspected or accused of the following crimes:

• murder (Jamaica Gleaner 4 Oct. 2015; Jamaica Star 24 Feb. 2015; SunCity n.d.)
• robbery (ibid.)
• shooting at police (Jamaica Gleaner 13 Nov. 2013; Jamaica Observer 13 Nov. 2013)

In a January 2013 article, Jamaica Observer reports that the police suspected One Order members of murdering two people, one of whom was a Ministry of Youth and Culture employee, because the two victims voiced their disagreement with the operations of a One Order boss at a public community meeting (ibid. 25 Jan. 2013). According to the same source, the two victims were both shot multiple times in or outside their homes within a day of each other (ibid.).

According to Jamaica Observer, the Klansman [Clansman] gang is a "fierce rival" of One Order and feuds between the two gangs have resulted in "the deaths of hundreds of people" (ibid.). An article published by the same source notes that One Order and Klansman have had "deadly battles" for control over extortion activities (ibid. 24 Feb. 2013).

In a January 2013 article, Jamaica Observer indicates that One Order was "imploding" and that there were several murders due to "an internal feud for leadership" (ibid. 25 Jan. 2013). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. State Response
3.1 Police

Jamaica Observer reports that, in the year preceding the publication of their February 2013 article, there was a reduction in gang violence between One Order and Klansman gangs in St. Catherine as a result of police actions, such as posting a "'static patrol'" in an area on the borderline between the two gangs (Jamaica Observer 24 Feb. 2013). Another article by the same source states that for two weeks in February 2013, the police "carried out operations" in Tawes Pen and Ellersie Pen communities, including seizing ammunition and taking "a number of men into custody" (ibid. 20 Feb. 2013).

According to Jamaica Observer, in March 2015, the police arrested Aston Daley (also known as "Daleybwoy," "Ricky," and "Ricardo") of Spanish Town, an alleged member of One Order and "one of the country's most wanted men," who was wanted "for murders, shootings and related crimes" (ibid. 15 Mar. 2015). In November 2015, police in the Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation branch and the St. Catherine North division reportedly arrested and charged four members of the One Order gang (ibid. 28 Nov. 2015).

3.2 Judiciary

The Jamaica Observer reports that a member of the One Order gang was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014 for the 2010 shooting death of a person in Spanish Town (Jamaica Observer 30 June 2014).

The Jamaica Star reports on a case in which a person accused of a 2013 murder, who was believed to be "third in charge" of the One Order gang, was released on bail in 2015 after the main witness did not appear in court (24 Feb. 2015).

For further information on crime in Jamaica, including state response and witness protection, see Response to Information Request JAM104263.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Jamaica Gleaner. 4 October 2015. "40 Guns Seized." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Gleaner. 13 November 2013. "Man Killed in St. Catherine Was Allegedly Wanted for Several Crimes." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Observer. 31 December 2015. "Murders at Four-year High." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Observer. 28 November 2015. "Cops Arrest, Charge 'Major Player' in Clansman Gang." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Observer. 13 November 2015. Alphea Saunders. "266 Criminal Gangs Creating Mayhem Across Island." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Observer. 15 March 2015. "One Order Gang Member Among 3 Arrested in St. Catherine." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Observer. 30 June 2014. "One Order Gangster Gets Second Life Sentence." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Observer. 13 November 2013. "Update: Man Shot Dead in Angel Heights Was Wanted by Police." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Observer. 24 February 2013. Karyl Walker. "Police Take Back Spanish Town - Murders Down, Gangs in Retreat." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Observer. 20 February 2013. "Ammunition Recovered in Ellerslie Pen." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Observer. 25 January 2013. Karyl Walker. "Dozens Detained in Spanish Town Raids." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Jamaica Star. 24 February 2015. Rasbert Turner. "Alleged Gang Member Gets $750,000 Bail." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Sun City Radio. N.d. "'One Order' Gang Member Killed in Connection with Bog Walk Murders." [Accessed 10 Apr. 2016]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Jamaica – Jamaica Constabulary Force, Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, Ministry of National Security, National Integrity Force, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Public Defender; Professor of Criminal Justice, Prairie View A&M University; Professor of Geography, University of Oxford; Professor of Human Geography, University of Amsterdam; Professor of Politics, University of the West Indies.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Factiva; Human Rights Watch; Jamaica – Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Information Service, Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, Ministry of National Security Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Public Defender; National Integrity Action; Small Arms Survey; United Kingdom – Home Office; United Nations – Office on Drugs and Crime, Refworld.