Westbury and gangsterism, then vs now: What has changed?
A brief history of gangsterism in Westbury and the difference of how gangs were back in the day and what they are now.
Starting in the late 1950s gangsterism was the biggest plague in what was called “Old Westren or Ou Westren”.
Two groups who were probably the biggest back then were “The Fast Guns” and the “Spaldings”.
According to a former member of the Spaldings there were other groups namely, The Vultures, Majimbos and Varados who also roamed the streets.
“Our thing those years was just fighting, hurting each other and making sure members of the other gangs do not enter our turf,” he said.
The Spaldings turf was from Florida Street and downwards (now known as ward 82) and upwards from Florida Street (now known as ward 69) was known as the Fast Guns Turf.
Some residents who lived in “Ou Westren” said the place, even though filled with violence, was even safer to walk around than it is now.
Susan Fries a 62 year old widow said that these gangsters would look after the elderly and the children.
“I wasn’t scared to walk around anywhere because robberies were at a minimal even though violence was rife,” said Fries.
“Nowadays we can’t even sit on our patios or relax outside because these “wanna be” gangsters don’t even know how to shoot.
Westbury gangs made a truce in the 1990s in a peace-making event that took place on the, then popular, “Felicia Mabuza Suttle Show”. The gangster heavyweights agreed to leave their lives of violence behind.
Reverend Peter Favor also an ex-gangster said shooters had faces then.
“There was huge respect for elders and people in the area knew who the gangsters were.
“Unfortunately things now have turned out for the worse in which children have been shot and killed while innocent people have also lost their lives,” said Favor.
With the big gangs closing down and making peace and now living with each other, new gangs started taking shape with their main aim being drug dabbling and territory wars.
Looking back we saw Luke Tibbets who died from a stray bullet last year, a couple who was shot by unknown perpetrators, more than five other people who died in Newclare because of the shooting and several others injured.
Marches have also been organised continuously which decreases the shooting for a while then it happens again but residents remain faithful saying God will step in in due time.
“We need to continue praying for our community because prayer is key,” said Fries.
What are your thoughts on Westbury and is it over now? You can write your comments in the comments section below.
