As I drive through the city, my taxi driver Tells me that he is going to have to charge extra: "Everywhere is blocked up, it's just turn, turn, turn."
I am just trying to get into the main commercial district of the capital, New Kingston, PS The journey provides a snapshot of the Situation in the country Finds itself.
As We head up one spot the road We Few vehicles on the road doing sharp U-turns. Then I hear it, the sound of automatic weapons fire.
We head back down the road to go around the trouble, and Suddenly we are surrounded by police. A shot-up Toyota is parked up by a petrol station.
We continue. Towards the center of town the streets are quiet - it is a national holiday, Labour Day, a Time When Communities get together to do work in their Areas.
But Everywhere We pass is empty until the main army camp as truckloads of soldiers head out in convoy, loaded sandbags on their vehicles, to a city under seige.
Steve the driver, like Jamaicans brilliant, has a nickname. His time in His comes from the Jamaican Defence Force: Sojey, the patois for "soldier."
After seven years in the army, he recognises the sound of the M16s fired in our direction.
Tight controls
The old police station at Darling Street in West Kingston had stood for over a century. Now it is a ruin, looted and firebombed in an attack Daytime brazen. Are Parts of the capital under a state of emergency with two police officers Overnight Killed.
Jamaica had been gearing up for trouble from the moment the country's Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, announced he Would address the nation a week ago.
He Promised to Explain His handling of an extradition request from the U.S. for Christopher Coke, better known as Dudus.
He Also goes by the aliases of other Shortman and president, the last one is an indicator of how he viewed in his community of Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston.
Before the Violence Which came to a head on Sunday, I had spent time in the community of Denham Town, and I Was Surprised by the brilliant reaction from residents.
The area had been Called the "mother of all garrisons" by a former head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force When I spoke to people yet, i was struck by the loyalty and support people had for the Dudus.
"Nobody can steal round here without His say-so, nobody round here carries out rape, they'd be dead."
Was worried for my safety I Was Told PS Would touch me and that nobody in the early hours of the morning I walked out of the community, Would that be something unheard-of in other more volatile Communities on the island.
Was he seen as the boss who cared for His community, Providing what the state had not: safety.
Fast-foward to the U.S. nine months ago and put in an extradition request for Christopher Coke, Washington claims a man is the head of the Shower Posse, an infamous gang and earnt that made its name in the 1980s by spraying bullets like water When They attacked rivals.
It is believed They are Responsible for more than 1.400 murders in the U.S..
Would see him His extradition Facing charges of drug-smuggling and gun-running pen, as a prominent supporter of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, he Holds a large amount of Political sway.
Jamaica's 'Dons'
He keeps the area, Which Is Also Prime Minister Bruce Golding's constituency, Loyal to the party.
The Government initially turned down the request, saying the evidence for the extradition had been gathered illegally.
But Following calls for Mr. Golding's resignation, after it became clear he had sanctioned a U.S. law firm to lobby against the extradition, he announced the order signed Would be the Following Day.
The warrant for the arrest saw West Kingston fortifications being put round.
The tough inner city of Kingston Communities Called garrisons are not for nothing.
Controlled by an "area leader" - the island's euphamism for the criminal bosses who are better known as "Dons" - local strongmen can control A few blocks to whole swathes of the city.
They have the power stretches from the gully to the Gordon House, the seat of Government.
The Prime Minister says the Security Forces will be swift and decisive in re-establishing law and order pen, as the Violence spreads, Many Wonder if They can handle the criminals who are taking on the state.
