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Bleachers exiled

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Stabroek News photo

Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter

Recently, in a letter supposedly issued by administrators of the Irwin High School in St. James and addressed to parents/guardians, students who were found guilty of skin bleaching were being asked to stay at home – away from the classroom – until their “original complexion” returned. The PNPYO caught wind of the now highly publicized issue and, in a statement to the Western Mirror, are shunning the actions of the school administrators, claiming, among other things, that the letter infringes on the UN Convention’s Rights of the Child to education.

The letter supposedly issued by the Irwin High School administration

“As creative as the letter was, it was not the appropriate response and could in fact compound the problem, rather than solve it, by keeping children out of school,” the PNPYO declared. They continued: “Our concern stems from the fact that Jamaica is a signatory the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, wherein the right to education is guaranteed. The act of preventing students from attending school due to skin bleaching could open the door for parents to mount a challenge on the basis that it infringes on their right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of colour.”

The letter, which surfaced sometime around the week of the 16th to the 22nd, is quoted as saying: “We have observed the changes to the tone and complexion of the skin of your child/ward. These changes are more visible on his/her face when compared to the photograph that is on file. We are therefore asking for a medical report from a doctor concerning the condition, as we are not sure if it is contagious. If this is not forthcoming, we ask that the child/ward remains home until his/her original complexion has returned and when it would have been deemed safe for him/her to be integrated into the school population. Thank you for your cooperation.”

The PNPYO further shared with the Western Mirror that while they understood the need to curb the worrying trend, the approach could benefit from being more tactful on the part of the school administration. “We must endeavour to implement a more strategic response that allows for psychological reconciliation that has not happened post-independence.” To that end, in admitting that the education system could be the driver of the post-independence reconciliation for these troubled students, the youth organization made several suggestions they believe could positively impact the problem.

SUGGESTIONS

As part of what they believe to be a reparative, comprehensive and long term approach, the PNPYO suggests first formalizing Garveyism as part of the nation-wide school curriculum, and testing the framework through partnerships with the Liberty Hall and the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association). Additionally, “Partnering with community stakeholders and psychologists to set up clubs and societies in the most affected schools,” with a focus on self-esteem, racial pride and behaviour change and modification, the PNPYO believes, could further serve to dissuade the act of skin bleaching among students, and even adults. They lastly suggested the retooling of the guidance departments in these schools. “Equipping guidance counsellors with the intervention skills and resources to persuade the student and their families against the practice of skin bleaching,” they added, could also help.

“Shaming students is not the most efficient means of helping them. Let us retool them with the confidence they need to embrace their noble heritage in totality, without jeopardizing their prospects of success through education and training,” the PNPYO concluded.

MORE BLOOD

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Floyd Frazier, who was killed on Sunday

Noelita Lawrence – Staff Reporter

Western Jamaica continues to bleed, amidst cries from some quarters that the State of Emergency imposed on the region over a month ago, is ineffective.

Killings seem to be the order of the day, especially in St. James and Westmoreland, with several deaths and scores of persons wounded across the three parishes, to include Hanover.

The latest victims are 25-year-old Kimani McIntosh of Mud Valley, Granville, and Floyd Frazer, contractor of Richmond Hill and Norwood, both in St. James, as well as 22-year-old Junior Campbell of Hartford, Whithorn in Westmoreland.

McIntosh was killed about midday on Monday. Reports are that residents heard gunshots and later saw McIntosh running towards the Retirement main road where he collapsed. He was assisted to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

He was reportedly shot in the head and upper body.

In Frazer’s case, police report that about 8 p.m. on Sunday, he was driving in the upper class community of Mango Walk, when he was ambushed and shot dead by unknown thugs.

Campbell, meanwhile, was shot dead by unknown assailants as he lay asleep inside a house in the community called Train Line in Hartford.

According to reports from the Police, Campbell was in a back room of the dwelling on a bed when hoodlums opened gunfire through the glass door and the window, hitting him in the neck.

The gunmen later escaped on foot and Campbell was later pronounced dead at the Sav-la-Mar Hospital.

SOE NOT WORKING

Some residents living in various communities where the crimes have been rampant and show no sign of slowing, insist the State of Emergency is a big waste of time and taxpayers’ money.

Scarlett Wisdom, who hails from Salt Spring, St. James, where shootings have continued, though no killings, told the Western Mirror. “I don’t know what the hell this State of Emergency is for, it’s just all a grand waste of time. Over here, gun shots continue to ring out night after night and although nobody nah dead, the guns them still on the street, plenty.”

Courtney McPherson of Granville also feels that crime is still too active in the parish. “I am trying to further my education and night after night, it proves very difficult for me as staying out late at night to participate in study sessions could prove costly. I have to try and get home as early as I can as in my area, where a man was killed recently, you know the guns are still there because you hear them at nights, even in your sleep.”

“The soldiers are on patrol almost all the time, you see them in the communities walking the lanes and conversing with the residents, but that’s not helping to rid the street of the dangerous weapons,” McPherson declared.

“Some soldiers come through pon a certain time,” declared ‘Miss Cutie’ of Paradise, “but larks, that alone nah help. Andrew need another plan. Is like the bad man them know when them coming and when they are to leave so. They come off the street until and then the action begins. I’ve been living here since me born and trust me, these young boys carrying out the wrongdoings, some of them are as clever as the lawmen and even more.”

Last week, PNP Caretaker for Central St. James, Andre Hylton, told the Western Mirror that the state of emergency is not working. ‘What we need is to sit down with the youths in these communities. We have to invite them around the table and have them become a part of the solution.”

Knights, Jaguars in semis

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POWER PACKED: Exhibiting his raw power and agility, David Gordon of the Granville Jaguars goes on a power drive towards the basket, unrepentant against the fronted Lucea Flames duo if Jvon Calderon (r) and Sherwin Glizene during their Western Basketball Association Elite League match at the Montego Bay Cricket Cub on Saturday. Jaguars ran out big winners, securing their ticket to the semi-finals. De’Vaun Ricketts photo

Noelita Lawrence-Ricketts

Last year’s beaten finalists, MoBay Cricket Club Knights and the former many times champions, Granville Jaguars, have joined Falmouth Saints as the two early qualifiers for the best-of-three semi finals of the Western Basketball Association Elite League following an emphatic win on the weekend.

Knights sent the Cornwall Court Chargers tumbling back into Division One, after yet another lopsided clobbering, dismissing their baffling opponents 90-49 in a lopsided beat down, which started out at a scrappy and dragged affair.

In one of the worst quarter displays of the season, both teams accounted for a combined 18 points, with the Chargers managing just a mere six.

Chargers tallied a further 12 in the second quarter, but Knights roared to new heights, slamming in a staggering season-high 30 points to begin the destruction of their so-called challengers, romping to a 42-18 advantage going into the break.

Chargers, though improved slightly in the second half, still proved ineffective as the rampant Knights, scoring freely and capitalizing on fast break points, uncontested lay-ups and steals, added a further 48 points to their tally to mark off the win and complete the 2-0 quarter final series sweep.

The energetic Demoy Daye led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Antonio Spence, who took a knock to the mouth early in the contest, added 18 and also hauled down 10 rebounds.

Up off the bench where he has spent most of his time this campaign, Omroy Kerr added 10 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished three assists.

For the Chargers who had been on life support all season, Franz Clennon had 15 points and Govanni Bailey 14, along with 7 rebounds and 5 steals.

In the opening game of the evening, Jaguars survived a late push to cool off Lucea Flames 87-77 to also win their series 2-0 and move into the last four.

Jaguars, despite not at their fluent best and free-scoring abilities did what was required to seal off their opponents.

In a close showing in the third and fourth quarters, Flames turned up their scoring percentage and capitalized on a few mismatches and key players resting to pull to within a point at one stage.

However, bad decisions and a determination of a one-man ball handling by Julian Walker proved destructive as within two minutes of needing a point, they fell 8 behind through quick scoring by the Jaguars on the reintroduction of David Gordon, the muscle man down low.

Gordon ended with 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Jaguars, while the China-bound Dave Black added 24, had 7 rebounds and 7 assists.

For Lucea Flames, the late-arriving Julian walker led the way with 27 points and Sheldon Myrie, 15 along with 13 rebounds.

Jvon Calderon was also influential, ending with 20 rebounds and 13 points. 

Negril entertains despite SOE

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Ancel P entertains with his piano recently, much to the amusement of children who recently visited Roots Bamboo in Negril on one of their beach trips.

Michael Nattoo/Alan Lewin

The State of Public Emergency, while its effects are far-reaching, has not quite had a dampening effect on Bambooze On The Beach in Negril. This lively spot, where patrons can find a wide range of entertainment options, continues to be a beacon of creativity, and operator, Nickesha Kozer, knows this. “Sales have been the same, and the environment has been the same. People still come out to have drinks and eat and have a good time,” she shared.

Ancel Powell, longtime entertainer in the Negril area, has also been consistently keeping the spirit of entertainment alive, despite the daunting State of Emergency. In fact, he has even been more active. “I roam the hotel and show venues with my piano and I still perform. I still get to work at some of these hotels. I recently finished a gig at the Royalton, and outside of that, I’m on the beaches performing for tourists. It’s still good here,” Ancel shared.

Now, Negril is finding life in the recent boosting of daytime shows to compensate for the early closing times imposed by the State of Emergency, and people are loving it.

More students benefit from Hanover Charities

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Scholarship recipients and executives of Hanover Charities pose at the presentation ceremony held at the Round Hill Hotel.

Shamir Brown – Correspondent

Hanover Charities has provided a big boost for the educational pursuits of a number of students in the parish.

This year, 191 students have been provided with scholarships, totaling 24 million dollars. The funds were provided to assist recipients with their educational pursuits. The number of recipients is up from 125 students in previous years. This was revealed by Katrin Casserly, chair of the Hanover Charities, as she gave her report at their annual grant ceremony held last Thursday at the Round Hill Hotel.

Through the support of a number of donors and the earnings from their annual Sugar Cane Ball that was held earlier this year, the organization was able to make a number of donations to students in Hanover and its environs. The students – who are both repeat beneficiaries and new ones -were able to collect scholarships in various amounts to assist in their schooling, both local and overseas. She related that it was a hard task to decide who should receive the scholarships after getting a number of applications to choose from. It was revealed that over the last five years, over US $500,000.00 has been disbursed in support of students who are seeking to achieve their educational goals.

However, while she noted that the charity will seek to continue to support more students in a similar fashion in the coming years, she called on the recipients of grants for this year and also past recipients to become donors for a cause, whether it is in the form service or cash.  

She further highlighted that the students are part of a larger scheme of giving that will see over 61 million dollars being disbursed to not only students, but to various organizations that Hanover Charities has pledged to assist. One of the benefitting organizations will be the Green Island Primary School, who, through a joint initiative, will see the erection of a new multipurpose hall and classrooms to accommodate the growth of the institution.

Dr. Patrick Prendergast, who was guest speaker at the function, also lauded the efforts of Hanover Charities for empowering the students and other beneficiaries through this act of giving. Though small in size, he related that the charity has done so much in giving to the needy, especially to students who do not have the opportunity to pay their tuitions.

However, he called on the recipients to pay it forward. “We must not only show gratitude today; we must also be prepared to fully embrace the responsibility that comes with being a beneficiary of this noble charity. One such responsibility is to give back. In the contemporary world, they call it pay it forward. I contend that you are the best positioned to pay it forward,” Dr. Prendergast remarked.

‘The State of Emergency is not working’ – Hylton

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Andre Hylton

Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter

“Crime is bigger than politics, and the fact is, the State of Public Emergency is just not working.”

That’s according to Andre Hylton, People’s National Party Caretaker for Central St. James, in an interview with the Western Mirror last Friday.

Despite the ongoing Zones of Special Operations and the supposedly much-improved States of Public Emergency, citizens of western parishes, particularly those in St. James, continue to cower in fear, as the increased security presence appears not to be having its intended impact, with murders still occurring with some regularity.

Just last Thursday, in the upscale community of West Gate Hills, St. James, the body of an unidentified male, suspected to be around 30 years old, was found stuffed in a barrel.

The body was reportedly clad in a green T-shirt, blue shorts and orange underpants, and is around 5 ft. 10 inches long.

Other recently recorded incidents – including the murders of Rodney ‘Al’ Myles, Rosemount Gardens, and 17-year-old Mark Powell, Green Pond, last Sunday and Monday respectively, have bolstered the former Eastern St. Andrew Member of Parliament’s arguments that the State of Public Emergency has so far been underperforming.

“We will never solve crime in Jamaica by increasing police presence, using brute force, or using bigger guns,” Hylton explained. “Until we understand the source of these behaviours, until we get to the root of the problems, we’ll make no progress. So, no matter how many soldiers and police we fill the streets with, if we do not invest in a more intelligence-driven approach, we can’t solve anything.”

Hylton posits that the well-intentioned State of Public Emergency has instead become a means of alienating the common citizen, which unwittingly contributes to and deepens the roots of crime in most inner-city communities, which are characterized by underdevelopment and neglect by political leaders.

“What we need is to sit down with the youths in these communities. We have to invite them around the table and have them become a part of the solution. It can’t just be all about brute force. We need to find ways to bring them back into becoming responsible and fruitful citizens. We need to show them what a civilized lifestyle is, and how they can benefit from being a part of it,” Hylton expressed. He continued: “There has to be a collaborative approach with the citizens of St. James. It’s about engagement. The stakeholders – the church, the various community groups, the police, the soldiers – all have to come together. That’s the only way we will start to make a dent in crime.”

The experienced politician and businessman is not merely making guesswork with his recommendations. His time as a Member of Parliament in Eastern St. Andrew, dealing with the once-violent August Town, serves as a constant reminder to the role an approach that emphasizes inclusivity can play in seriously tackling crime. For instance, unlike the current fixture of sporadic and sometimes random detainment of young people under the State of Public Emergency, Hylton sought to change that dynamic in the violent August Town community by introducing young men in the community to the police outside of violent circumstances.

“With the help of stakeholders, I organized two buses, loaded them, and headed for police station. There, I had the young men meet with the police, talk to them, and have valuable discussions outside of the usually tense environment. That created a true, genuine engagement with the young people, which helped to create a valuable partnership. It was a collective of people just getting to know and understand each other, and that helped in the long run.” In 2016, August Town recorded 0 murders, where previously it had recorded 48.

STOP SUPPRESSING SMALL BUSINESSES

Hylton lamented: “One of the other things I see happening is small businesses really suffering. Right now, what you have is some big established businesses making millions, while the small man is stifled because of the unrealistic closing hours imposed upon them. Those people are suffering, and can’t send their kids to school, and can’t put food on the table. Those people are prone to violence, to acts of suicide, to depression, and all of those things. The government has to do better.”

He further suggested that the government cannot afford to take a one-size-fits-all approach, and should examine the unique conditions that persist, and provide intelligence-driven solutions where possible. “The government’s number one responsibility is its people. Right now, what they are doing isn’t working. People are suffering, and something has to be done. They must consider extending business hours for the small man, and must develop an appreciation for a more intelligent approach to crime fighting. What is happening now simply cannot work. It is not a crime plan, and it really just isn’t working. More has to be done.”

Saints, Titans take leads

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OUT OF REACH: Ricardo Brooks, player/coach of the Falmouth Saints team (back to camera), puts a finger floater up and out of the reach of Kurt Dorman’s hands during the two’s Western Basketball Association Elite Playoffs match at Montego Bay Cricket Club on Saturday (June 16).

Noelita Lawrence-Ricketts

Sav Elite Titans and the rampaging Falmouth Saints each hold 1-0 leads after the opening games in the Western Basketball Association (WBA) Elite League playoffs played at the Montego Bay Cricket Club.

Titans and Saints snatched 1-0 leads thanks to impressive wins in the double header which started 40 minutes later than scheduled.

Saints, with a ruthless showing, pulled off the first big win of the evening, charging past the defending champions Catherine Hall All Stars, 76-55, in a dominant display from start to finish.

It was a close match in the early stages with both teams trading scores, but it was Saints who pressed slightly ahead at the halfway stage 30-28, although All Stars won the second quarter 18-15.

However, Saints, playing their usual fast game and capitalizing off swift fast breaks, opened up a massive 29-16 third quarter score, restoring their stroll to victory, and completed the canter with a final quarter 17-11 scoreline as the All Stars faded.

Nicholai Brown, who delighted the crowd with his acrobatics and also stuffed home a dunk which sent a buzz through the fans, top-scored with 21 points and 13 rebounds for the winning Saints, while Michael Johnson added 21 and grabbed 8 rebounds.

For the All Stars, Dwayne Johns, who missed the opening quarter, led the scoring with 17 points, one more than Craig Dorman who tallied 16.

The big man down low in the paint for the All Stars, Kurt Dorman, ended with 12 points.

In the evening’s other affair, Sav Titans recovered from a very sluggish start to outgun Warriors by a narrow one-point margin, 66-65.

Titans trailed by seven at the close of the opening quarter (16-23), but then followed it up with a sensational scoring of their own, and some tight defensive displays along with lax shooting by the Warriors team, which went scoreless for more than five minutes.

Titans, in sharp-shooting form and allowing nothing in their third, restricted the Warriors to just 8 points in the second quarter and went into the halftime break, up 39-31.

Warriors went on a charge at the start of the second half sinking 15 points to their opponent’s 10, as they closed to within three of Titans going into the fourth and final quarter.

However, the eventual winners survived the onslaught and held on for the points, though outscored 19-17.

Warriors, led by National player Levar Rose and packed with a wealth of youth stars and former All-Island champions, pushed all the way in the closing stages, but just could not clinch the winner against a determined Titans, going on to take the 1-0 advantage.

Shelmar Bromfield, with a gam-high 26 points and Dylon Hodges, 15 and 11 rebounds, led the scoring charge for the winners Titans.

Tafari Vassell with 17 points and Rose with 16 scored most points for the Warriors.

Teen slain in Green Pond

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Investigators comb the crime scene at which the teen’s body was found.

Rashaun Stewart – Summer Intern

Seventeen-year-old Mark Powell, a resident of Princess Street, was shot and killed in Green Pond, St. James, shortly before 11 on Monday night.

Residents heard explosions and summoned the police, who discovered Powell’s body along a dirt track.

The teen’s father, Mark Powell Sr., is in disbelief. He last saw his son after they returned home together about 8 p.m. He was reportedly working alongside his son on Barnett Street earlier that day, before returning home, whereupon his son informed him that he planned to purchase some food.

Mark Powell

“The last time mi see my son, my son was working with mi on Barnett Street. We drive in likkle after 8 o’clock. Him tell mi say him going on the street. Mi ask him fi what and him say him a buy a food. Mi give him $1000,” Powell Sr. related. “Him ask mi fi lend him mi bike and mi tell him no. Mi speak to him five time and tell him fi don’ leave the yard go anyweh and him say him soon come back. From him leave I don’ see him.”

Powell Sr. only received news of his son’s whereabouts the morning after the incident, when he was informed by a friend that his son had been fatally shot. Powell Sr. attempted to call Mark’s phone several times prior to being informed of his fate, but his calls went unanswered. It was then that he began to suspect something was amiss.

“This morning, somebody call mi and tell mi say mi son dead pon Green Pond road. Mi can’t believe it. All mi nerves mash up. It mash up mi nerves!” Powell laments.

A resident of Princess Street with his father, Mark was a gregarious, outgoing young man. His friendly nature enabled him to form quick connections with people and he had a number of friends in the area, according to his father. One such connection was his girlfriend, a resident of the Green Pond community. Powell Sr. is uncertain if she was the reason for Mark being in Green Pond and whether the situation went awry while he was on his way to visit her. 

“Him have so much friends. Mi know seh him have a girlfriend who live in Green Pond, but I don’ know where in Green Pond she live. So I don’ know if a him girlfriend him follow and gunman kill him or what. I don’ know, I don’ know,” the distraught father lamented.

  “Him never a scammer,” Powell Sr. commented. “Him never no thief. Him never nobody who inna problem with no-one. Only problem him have was him love friend and company. Him ever have friend.  From him graduate from ‘Senior School’ him have nuff friend weh go a Green Pond. A round deh so him born and grow, so him know nuff people round there,” Powell related.

Powell Sr. had an older son who was also slain in gun violence several years ago. This son, Romario Powell, died in 2014 at 19 years old. He was slain in the John’s Hall area where he reportedly went to purchase a bike.

 “They kill my son from him a 19 and my son [Mark] talk bout him bredda every day. And him now come dead when him a 18. Mi a seh if the man dem couldn’t spare him life.”

“Mi feel mash up. Mi miss him. Him a the only person left back now. Mi a teach him carpenter work, steelwork, tiling and chrome plating. This killing… it shock mi nerves and it mash up di whole a mi nerves. Mi love mi son and mi talk to him every day,” Powell Sr. sobbed.

Meanwhile, Councillor for the Salt Spring division, Sylvan Reid, expressed condolences and condemned the killing. “It’s been a while and we haven’t had one in that time. It is very telling that presently the measures that we have in place are just not working. It’s an isolated incident, of course, because as I said before, it’s been a while. But it is not only in this division that these things are happening even though we have a State of emergency.”

The murder is being investigated by the police force’s detectives.

CRUSHED

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Jennifer Wright, deceased
  • Whitehouse mourns ‘Village Mother’

Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter

On Friday, June 14, in the usually quiet community of Whitehouse, St. James, one resident’s account of the sound of bones breaking beneath a freightliner truck painted the tragic circumstances under which 60-year-old beloved ‘Village Mother’, Jennifer Wright, lost her life.

“They said it was purely accidental,” explained Ryan, one of Wright’s six children. “I had just helped her carry down some crates with bottles to the truck, and then I went back inside.”

Wright, who had been involved in the business of selling bottles back to the distribution trucks, remained outside for a while after, but moments later, Ryan reported hearing her say “but watch ya!” He explained to the Western Mirror that following that outburst, an alarm was raised by a neighbour, which was quickly followed by panicked shouts from the truck driver.

Ryan rushed outside to a scene he explained he is still having trouble forgetting – the bloody wheels of the truck, the truck driver shouting to him to call an ambulance, and the partially crushed body of his mother lying half way between the front and back wheels.

By Ryan’s account, as well as that of the neighbour who reportedly witnessed the whole ordeal, the back wheels of the truck had run over the elderly woman.

“Being a lifeguard for years and someone who was well-versed in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), I rushed over to her body. I decided to first check her pulse, but when I did, there was nothing. By that time, my mother was already dead. I don’t know who called the ambulance, but apparently someone did. They took a while to come, but they eventually did, and the police came too.” Ryan further revealed that the neighbour who was raising the alarm explained to him that when the truck first ran over Wright, he could hear the sounds of her bones breaking.

According to the Coral Gardens Police, the driver of the truck allegedly reversed without knowing that Wright was behind the unit. She was accidentally mowed down by the truck, which was immediately followed by the truck’s co-driver getting the driver’s attention. Wright was eventually rushed to the hospital where, according to the police, she was pronounced dead.

LIES AND RECKLESSNESS

According to Ryan, however, someone is lying about what really happened. “They claimed that there was somebody outside the truck directing it, so how did they not see that my mother was behind it? Something doesn’t add up. I heard them telling the police that, but it’s not true,” he shared. “They’re telling a bunch of lies.” He further alleged that they were being reckless, and that the incident could have been avoided had they not been more careful. “They said they were even blowing the truck horn. That’s a lie. It’s a small community, sir. If they were blowing it, we would have heard. Nobody heard no truck horn blowing.”

Since the tragic incident, no one from the distribution company in question has contacted the family, Ryan confirmed.

“No one, aside from the investigating officer, has contacted us. So right now, we just have to huddle together as a family and handle this. It’s hard, and I’ve been zoned out ever since the whole thing, but we have to just handle it,” Ryan relayed to the Western Mirror.

COMMUNITY IN SHAMBLES

“It feels like a boulder just rolled through the community. She was a mother to everyone in the community. Any likkle thing they would come to her. She really was the ‘Village Mother’ – caring and loving everyone. She even informally adopted. Now, the entire community is just crushed.”

Wright’s first child, who was residing overseas for some time, is expected to arrive on the island today, and is expected to meet with other siblings to discuss the way forward in the matter, Ryan revealed.

Investigations are ongoing.

Granville again

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BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONS: Members of the Granville team hold aloft the winning trophy following their triumph over John Rollins Success in the championship game of the VMBS Under-13 Football Final on Friday at UDC. Granville won 3-0 on penalties to retain their grip on the crown. Also sharing in the moment are members of the sponsorship team, headed by Suzette Ramdanie- Linton Noelita Lawrence Ricketts photo

Noelita Lawrence-Ricketts

Goalkeeper Ralique Peddie stood tall between the sticks as the irresistible Granville successfully defended their crown and are again champions of the Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) Under-13 Football Competition.

Granville gained a second successive hold on the crown, their sixth overall and a third in four years, with a strenuous and defiant victory over John Rollins Success Primary in the championship game played at the UDC field last Friday, June 14.

Granville needed the dreaded penalties to see off their spirited opponents, winning 3-0 from the spot after a 0-0 full and extra time draw in a championship game which failed to live up to expectations.

One of two brothers to find the back of the net from the spot, Jordan Campbell confidently opened the scoring for the champions in the shoot-out when he rifled home acutely into the corner of the net to give Granville the lead from the spot.

Abraham Quest and Desroy Campbell, also low into the back of the net, were the other scorers for Granville as they successfully defended their crown.

It was disaster for the 2017 champions Success, as they failed to connect from the spot, having two of their three kicks taken stopped brilliantly by the custodian in goal for Granville, Ralique Peddie.

Captain Devonte Watkin, a survivor from the 2017 winning team, had his kick sensationally saved down the middle of the goal; Ferando Atkin too saw his effort stopped by the alert keeper, and the usually dependable Dawayne Spence saw his fierce strike cannononed back off the base of the upright.

 The victory for the Granville unit saw them again ending the season spectacularly undefeated, and also has them avenging their 2017 semi-final defeat to the same opponent.

Success, who entered the contest as underdogs but had been tipped to cause a few problems to their opponent’s backline, struggled to get settled and despite the odd look, failed to spark as they were mostly pressed on the defensive.

Granville created the first opening mere seconds into the start, but Javel Allen from inside the area and with the goalkeeper for Success beaten, sent his shot shockingly wide of the target.

Desroy Campbell also had efforts on target, the first a stinging shot, stopped brilliantly by the keeper who was the busier of the two keepers, before a toe poke, which deflected off the Success keeper and crashed into the side of the net, flashed by the base of the post.

Granville are now the joint winningest team of the age-old competition, first won back in 1991 by Catherine Hall Primary, who also have six titles to their name, the last of which came back in 2015.

Meanwhile, Chetwood, who had been tipped to lift this year’s title, secured third place with a 2-0 defeat of Barracks Road Primary in the battle for minor placings.

Raymond Campbell and Kaylor Palmer in the 2nd and 48th minutes found the goals for the Leacroft Lettman-coached team.

Competition organizer, Hopeton Gilchrist, says this year’s event was another good one, and was pleased with the outcome. “Good overall season, even though there is still room for improvement he told the Western Mirror.

Gilchrist also pointed out the improved performances of the female players  as they have come along way and are seemingly much better than in years gone by.

Gilchrist, the National youth coach, says the competition had better overall performances and better quality.

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