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St. James in fear

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Mayor, Councillor Homer Davis

Clinton Pickering – Freelance Writer

With Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis recently declaring that the people of St. James have become “very, very uncomfortable”, there are renewed calls by the fearful citizenry for a State of Public Emergency to be reintroduced in the increasingly violent parish.

Last Thursday, during the regular monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Mayor Davis shared his concerns regarding the recent upsurge in crimes. He sombrely explained to the council, “It [crime] has made the citizens of St. James very uncomfortable… very, very uncomfortable.”

Davis, who is a former crime sleuth and one of the early voices in opposition to the State of Public Emergency being removed earlier this year, recalled that, “a number of us in this parish agreed that the State of Emergency that was declared in January 18, 2018 was necessary and so, the people of St. James supported it.”

He went on to reference a recently released Don Anderson Poll, which showed 90 percent of Jamaicans supported the Government on its imposition of the crime-fighting measure. Meanwhile, 78 percent supported it being maintained, even as parliamentary opposition remained firm against its retention.

In reacting to an appeal from the Police High Command in the parish for the citizens of St James’ support in fighting the crime monster, Mayor Davis noted that he was confident that they [the security forces] have the tool to bring some semblance of order in the parish as it relates to murders, robberies and other crimes, but, he stressed, “I can tell you, in moving around and speaking to the people, they have become very, very fearful.”

Last Sunday’s double murder/robbery crime scene along Jarrett Street

The mayor further shared: “a number of them (citizens) have echoed the sentiment that we should reinstate the State of Emergency. That’s a very popular opinion out there because they saw what occurred during that 12-month period, and as a result of that, they are prepared to give up some of their own rights in order to protect life and property in this parish.”

Mayor Davis admitted that last week Sunday’s gangster-style hold-up in Montego Bay, which resulted in a double murder, as well as the robbery of millions in cash and cheques, “frightened the hell out of people and as a result of that, they are very fearful and have gone back into a similar state of mind as they were pre-January 18, 2018.”

PMI CONCERNED ALSO

Meanwhile, the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) is also very concerned that almost immediately following the lifting of the State of Emergency, crime and violence in and across St. James experienced a noticeable spike. For Chairman of PMI West, Rev. Everton Jackson, that was a worrying trend. Last Thursday, the clergyman shared with the Western Mirror, “That for us, represents a worrying trend; as one can recall that in 2017, a similar trend had emerged, which led to the State of Emergency being established in 2018.”

Rev. Jackson also shared that no one could question the fact that during the SOE, there was a significant reduction in crime and violence. “However,” he added, “regrettably, not many of the illegal guns were taken off the streets and evidently, the violence-producers went underground and waited for the SOE to come to an end, to re-emerge.” He noted that “this has created a climate of fear among the citizenry of the parish.”

He has sought to give an assurance, however, that notwithstanding, the PMI and other agencies “are not going to give up or give in or surrender in relation to our ongoing therapeutic and social intervention strategies and programmes.” In that vein, he said they continued to provide grief counseling with a view to minimizing reprisal possibilities.

Also, PMI would continue to work with the Social Development Commission, (SDC), the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) and other agencies, in providing opportunities through skills and social skills training in relation to anger management, among other things, “to see if we can keep crime and violence under control.”

Suspected ‘Jarrett St. Shooter’ killed

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Kayon ‘Scatta’ Wellington, who the police said was the leader of the Dean’s Lane Gang operating out of Montego Bay
  • Said to be leader of Dean’s Lane Gang

Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter

Following a bullet-filled confrontation with men in Belmont, St. James, on Tuesday, March 12, the police are reporting that one of two men killed – 36-year-old Kayon Wellington, was the reputed leader of the St. James-based Dean’s Lane Gang, and was responsible for a number of murders and robberies in and around the parish.

The police are also reporting that Wellington, who is otherwise called ‘Scatta’, was also involved in Sunday’s (March 10) high-profile double murder and multi-million-dollar robbery along Jarrett Street, in which Hawkeye security guard, Canute Earle, and 41-year-old Floyd Wilson, were killed.

THE RIGHT MAN

Despite some residents protesting Wellington’s death, the police are maintaining that they got the right man. According to the lawmen, Wellington’s criminal exploits date as far back to 2003, when he was fingered as a person of interest for crimes involving murders, shootings, and wounding with intent.

In 2013, the police relate, Wellington was implicated in the murder of Keniel Richards in Belmont. In January of 2018, Wellington was then implicated in the murder of Kevin Lindo on McCatty Street, and in 2019, the murders of Omar Watkins and Lloyd Johnson on Barnett Street.

THE FIERY ENCOUNTER

According to information reaching this newsroom, targeted raids were carried out across the parish for illegal firearms, wanted men and persons of interests, which included Wellington. Intelligence led the lawmen to a two-storey dwelling house in the Belmont community, where two men allegedly challenged the officers. After receiving backup, according to reports, the lawmen were able to gain control of the situation, and after the shooting subsided, two men were found suffering from gunshot wounds, one of whom was Wellington.

Wellington’s house in Belmont, St. James, the scene of the alleged shootout with the police on Tuesday

The men were transported to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

RESIDENTS CRY FOUL

Even as the lawmen remain confident that their intelligence-gathering efforts correctly led them to Wellington, some Belmont community members are expressing dissatisfaction in what they believe was the unwarranted slaying of an innocent man.

“I was here washing and a get up mi get up fi throw weh di waata,” began one resident who spoke to the Western Mirror on condition of anonymity. “When mi look down there – because his (Wellington) house faces mine so I could see over there, mi see a man lean up pon the side of the house.” The resident reportedly alerted her husband to what she had seen, and not long after, police had surrounded the house of the deceased.

“The whole yard was surrounded by police,” the resident confirmed, adding that by that point, she made her way to the front of her house to closer observe what was happening. “I told my mother, and the guys who were out by the front, that police had surrounded Kayon’s house, but before I could finish, mi hear a barrage a gunshots… mi cyaa believe seh police just come kill di pickney suh!”

She continued: “If him do something, carry him gwaan a jail – a man is innocent until proven guilty, so carry him gwaan a prison.” The resident further shared that security personnel soon flooded the community, and were asking persons to return to their homes. It was further revealed that a basic school that was close by had to halt its activities and had its students lie on the ground, until the area had been fully secured by the lawmen.

“A dem come wid di bag a shooting because even one a di man dem wa dem kill was a man of unsound mind, him head nuh good and dem kill him,” she concluded.

FAMILY MEMBER SPEAKS

“A work mi deh and mi get di call seh police come shoot him” a female cousin of the deceased shared. “We neva have no incident in the community, so mi surprise seh police come in here, raid a house and shoot a man (Wellington) inna him bed when him a sleep.”

She further explained that Wellington bought and sold cars, and had been relatively immobile since he was previously shot in an incident with the police – a matter which was before the court. “Right now, we sad, we hurt and we in pain. Him a neva somebody weh give trouble, a somebody weh always stay in and deh pon him phone… so right now, mi just nuh know.”

The incident reportedly took place around 2:18 p.m.

Fire ravages guest house

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The guest house in Coral Gardens, St. James, which was ravaged by fire on Saturday KT photo
  • Loss estimated at $44 million

Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter

“I am left shirtless and pants-less, I have nothing, everything just burnout.” Words of a distraught Donavon Forbes, owner of the 7-bedroom Guest House at Coral Gardens, Montego Bay; where the upper floor was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning.

Forbes, who lived on the upper floor of the house, also lost his 2010 Super Charger Range Rover and a Harley Davidson motor bike and other valuables in the blaze.

“I woke up about 4 o’clock and smell smoke in the living room. I opened my door and come out on the balcony and see lot of smoke in the living room. I ran back to the bedroom where I woke up my girlfriend and we ran downstairs where we have some guests. We secured them and brought them out. I rushed back upstairs to go into my bedroom to secure some documents but the fire engulfed them all. We could not save anything – clothes, passport, everything just burn,” Forbes explained.

The Montego Bay Fire Brigade reports that it received a distress call about 5:15 a.m. and responded with three units from the Freeport and Ironshore stations.

The blaze, which was at the upper floor of the house was brought under control and extinguished before any damage could be done to the lower floor.

The fire brigade has indicated that initial reports would suggest that the fire could have been started from an electrical short circuit.

The damage from the fire is estimated at 44 million dollars. It is not known whether the house or motor vehicles were insured.

However, Forbes, who has lived in the house for the past three-and-a-half years, has indicated that despite the heavy losses incurred, he would be taking steps to have the damaged portion of the house refurbished as quickly as possible.

“It was a nice place so I plan to build back. The car and the bike burn to ashes, those were my babies and they are gone.  It will not be a start over from scratch, because I can live downstairs, but what I am happy for is that no one was hurt,” Forbes concluded.

5 Deaths, 1 Day

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Taken from a vantage point, the above merged photos capture police personnel placing spent shell markers, as well as taking pictures of the scene, where the daring robbery and double murder took place along Jarrett Street. Also pictured above is the bullet-ridded Hawkeye response team vehicle. – Phillip Green photos
  • St. James again under siege

Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter

The murder of a prostitute; an armed, military-like robbery which left two men dead, and the shooting deaths of two other men, all within 24 hours in the again crime-ridden St. James, have left citizens of the parish on edge, fearing that the worst is yet to come.

Dead are 24-year-old Kerrian Campbell, otherwise called ‘Ker’, of John’s Hall; Floyd Wilson, 47-year-old driver of Rosemount Gardens; 61-year-old Canute Earle, a Hawkeye Security Officer; Suneil Foskins, unemployed of Bethel Town, Westmoreland, and Allan Waters, otherwise called ‘Hot Beer’, a 44-year-old labourer.

In what is arguably St. James’ bloodiest day since the State of Emergency was lifted, the tragic slaying of Floyd Wilson and Canute Earle along Jarrett Street on Sunday signaled the beginning of what turned out to be an unusually busy day for Crime Scene Investigators across the parish.

In that much-publicized incident, according to police reports, Wilson and Earle were a part of a team tasked with safely escorting a businessman who was reportedly traveling with important documents, as well as an undetermined sum of cash, suspected to be in the millions.

Details reaching this newsroom are that shortly after collecting two bags of cash and important documents from his business establishment, the businessman boarded his Toyota Hiace bus, which was being driven by Wilson, with Hawkeye security personnel Earle, and another man, providing armed coverage, following closely behind.

On reaching a section of Jarrett Street, the standard escort mission turned deadly when a Toyota motorcar drove out into the path of the Hiace, blocking it along the narrow roadway. In rapid succession, four men, all wearing denim and bulletproof vests and armed with M16 rifles, alighted from the Toyota motorcar and instantly opened fire at the Hiace and the security personnel.

Under the barrage of .223 calibre bullets from the M16 rifles, the businessman somehow managed to escape unharmed, leaving the cash and the documents behind. The armed men, whom many suspect are trained professionals, then made off with the cash and documents in a waiting car, while Wilson and Earle were found to be suffering from gunshot wounds. In a chilling video captured by residents who descended upon the scene of the brazen robbery, Earle was briefly captured holding his neck, which appeared severely wounded by bullets. He died while undergoing surgery, after he and the other Hawkeye security personnel, who also sustained multiple gunshot but is now in stable condition, were rushed to the hospital by residents. Wilson, however, died on the spot.

‘KER’ KILLED

Crime Scene Investigators, who were quick to the scene of the shocking robbery/double murder, had to stretch themselves thin after being alerted to the body of a female being found along Fisherman’s Beach off Howard Cooke Boulevard.

The dispatched investigators arrived at their second murder scene of the day, where the body of Campbell was found, clad in a burgundy shirt and blue jeans shorts, with multiple stab wounds observed, and its head bashed in.

According to unconfirmed reports, Campbell, who regularly uses the beach to conduct sexual transactions, was seen arguing with one of her suspected clients. The reports further allege that minutes later, Campbell brandished a pair of scissors, and not long after, neither she nor her client were seen. The dispute was reportedly over her client refusing to pay her.

On Sunday morning, her body was found lying face down along the beach. Investigations continue.

‘HOT BEER’

Meanwhile, police personnel could not catch a break on Sunday as some distance away, in Norwood, St. James, in close proximity to an area known as ‘Hollywood’, Walters, who’s more popularly known as ‘Hot Beer’, was shot and killed by unknown assailants.

According to information reaching this newsroom, Walters was sitting at the intersection of Forrest Lane and Daca Tone Square, when men in a white Toyota Premio motorcar pulled up next to him. Men reportedly alighted from the vehicle and opened fire on Walters, hitting him to the upper body. Another man who was close by was also injured in the incident, but only suffered a grazed, upper left arm. Both men were rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where Walters was pronounced dead.

That would not be the last stop for crime sleuths, as shortly after, sometime around 10:00 a.m., the lawmen were called to neighbouring Farm Hill, where another murder had taken place. In that incident, the police later found out, Suneil Foskins was doing construction work on a house, when a lone gunman approached and opened fire at him.

Foskins was shot to the head and upper body, and after being rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

BUSINESS COMMUNITY WORRIED

St. James has recorded more than its share of murders since the State of Emergency has been lifted, and the business community has taken notice of the worrying trends. In a joint statement released by the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) and the Jamaica Hotel Tourist Association and (JHTA), there are “increasing concerns regarding the trend of criminal activities within the city of Montego Bay and the parish of St. James since the announced intentions and actual withdrawal of the Enhanced Security Measures (State of Public Emergency).”

Both bodies shared that despite the government’s reassurances that every effort will be made to ensure the parish builds on the gains made under the State of Public Emergency, the “rising trend of brazen, cold-hearted shootings and killings” has betrayed the Jamaican government’s expressed sentiments.

“The MBCCI and the JHTA are calling on the Government of Jamaica and the joint security forces to hasten the implementation of the relevant policies, legislation and strategies to bring an instant halt to this undesirable trend that has returned to the city and parish of St. James,” they shared.

The recent murders account for just a fraction of the rising criminality here in the parish, and do not fully account for the worrying trend of crime across the parish. There have been a number of shootings across St. James, one of which saw the home of recently deceased youngster, Jordanian Hodges, being shot up by marauding gunmen, during which a senior citizen was injured and hospitalized.

‘Natural’s’ Mobile Tea Cart

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Stafford Llewllyn (R) looks on as some customers around his cart enjoy their meals while chatting during a routine sale on Friday morning, March 8, along Cottage Road. - Noelita Lawrence photo

With the harsh economic times threatening to derail the lives of many Jamaicans, Stafford Llewllyn, popularly known as ‘Natural’, has refused to be gobbled up by the system of failure.

The 42-year-old father of five, who hails from Cornwall Mountain in Sav-la-Mar, Westmoreland, but has since made a home in the Dumfries area of St. James for over 10 years, is a man determined to survive.

‘Natural’ is the owner and operator of the ‘Tea Cart’, a rare form of mobile food truck operated on a cart he pushes to and fro in and around Montego Bay, mainly between the Charles Gordon Market and the Western Mirror on Cottage Road. 

The broad-smiling man, who disclosed he only has a primary school level education, says he has been doing this kind of job for the past 15-plus years, a means he uses to care for his children.

“Aah started out a long time ago. Me first use to sell juices till me said me wanted something different, something quicker, faster, something that would make make more money, so I decided to get a cart and do me likkle ting”.

On a given day, one can stand around the cart and watch as a fried or boiled egg is prepared and served with either white or brown sliced bread.

Plantains (ripe and green), the national dish of ackee and salt fish, along with callaloo, are also served from ‘Natural’s’ cart.

For a hot beverage, one can pick, choose and refuse as the likes of Milo, tea bags of various brands, ginger, mint and also coffee can be had at the mobile cart, which houses a stove fuelled by gas.    

A popular figure with taxi operators, construction workers and others, ‘Natural’ says he hopes his meals can go a long way each day in satisfying those who consume it.

One customer who was at the cart when the Western Mirror chatted with ‘Natural’, said “The food is very good and somewhat of a difference from the everyday dumplins, bananas and other foods served in the restaurants.” She also noted that it was nice to be able to see what is being looked after then and there.

“It really good to see what you eating and how it prepared. Plus, it taste good and even if you trouble with pressure you can eat the salt fish, because it not too salt… it good, it really taste good,” she said, biting down on her callaloo sandwich.

Peace marches; crime rises

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Murdered bus driver, Hilroy Hamilton

Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter

The unfortunate murder of a dancer and a bus driver in separate incidents last Thursday highlights worrying trends for some increasingly troubled communities across the West.

Investigators called to the scene of a three-person stabbing incident in Negirl, Westmoreland, saw 26-year-old dancer Deandra Adamson, of Cuffie’s Pen, Lacovia, St. Elizabeth, succumbing to injuries she sustained after turning down the advance of a man in a night club.

Details reaching this newsroom are that Adamson was going about her business in the club when a male suspect approached her. The suspect reportedly made several advances toward Adamson, all of which she refused. It is further reported that the suspect started physically assaulting the woman, who then used a knife to stab the suspect to his right thigh.

Following that escalation, the suspect responded by stabbing the victim to her left breast and right forearm. At that point, according to reports, the owner of the club intervened in the conflict, and was also stabbed.

All three were rushed to Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital, where Adamson was pronounced dead, and the two men admitted in stable condition. Adamson’s suspected killer was under police guard while admitted.

SUMMER HILL SHOOTING

Earlier Thursday night, around 10:30 p.m., the usually quiet community of Summer Hill in rural St. James, was the scene of a crime which has left residents confused and unsettled.

Dead is 41-year-old, well-known bus driver, Hilroy Hamilton, who was found lying along a dirt track in the community suffering from gunshot wounds.

Residents reportedly heard explosions and summoned the police, and on their arrival, they observed Hilton lying along the dirt track. So far, no motive has been established for the killing, and residents are uncertain who may have wanted to harm the longtime bus driver.

MURDERS CONTINUE, DESPITE CALLS FOR PEACE

The reported murders come on the heels of several initiatives being rolled out across the West, which are all geared at maintaining and fostering peaceful communities. Despite these initiatives, crimes continue unabated, but the calls for peace have not waned.

Students of the Irwin Primary School, pictured here at the end of their peace march at the Tucker Gas station, are supported by members of the school’s Guidance Committee, as well as members of the community, who all showed up to ensure the students got their messages of peace out. The enthusiastic students were also safeguarded by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (pictured in the back). The peace march formed part of the school’s Peace Day Celebrations, which saw students crafting their personal messages and pleas for peace in their communities. Peace Day was celebrated on March 5, 2019.

Just last Tuesday, March 5, 2019, as part of their Peace Day celebrations, students of the Irwin Primary School added their voices to those cries for peace, and with the help of the Guidance Committee, staged a peace march.

Held under the theme, ‘Be The Peace’, a number of students from the rural area school participated in the march, which ran from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., and went from the school grounds to the Tucker Gas Station. Many of the students turned out with their personalized placards bearing messages for peace, and were undaunted by the morning sun. According to one representative from the Guidance Committee, “We see the importance of initiating this programme, as a number of our students are from the communities that have been adversely affected by the upsurge in crime and violence over the years.” The representative further highlighted that despite crime figures still being on the rise, their intentions are to get the students to play an active role in the maintaining the peace and stability that they still have, “given that the State of Emergency is no longer in effect in St. James.”

Service Please! – Why frustrate the customer?

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www.callcentrehelper.com photo

Alex-Ann Green

Here’s the scene: you decide to put your nerves on the line to call the business to get your issues resolved. By some miracle, the phone is answered by a human. You exhale because you have just overcome what are normally insurmountable hurdles. You explain the details of your issue as best as you know how then the representative lets you know they can’t help. You try to keep calm and ask who you need to speak with. The representative cannot give you a name or a number.

At this point I am sure I am not the only one who wants to burst into tears, stomp my feet and scream. Frustration and helplessness start to set in and you do not know what else to do. You consider going to the office in person where you will wait all day with a high possibility of hearing the person you need is not there and they do not know when they will be. Another real possibility is that you will need to go to Kingston or some other office/branch.

The sad part in all of this is that you are contacting these businesses about services they provide and you purchased or are trying to purchase. Now, is it not a reasonable assumption that said company would have the appropriate channels in place to assist with what you have purchased or are trying to purchase? Is it not also reasonable that everything necessary not be limited to one human being? The world can’t continue to pause when that person is indisposed.

The representatives also must have a difficult time carrying out their tasks when they really can’t do anything. It seems companies are just hiring bodies but don’t trust their employees to use their brains so they are not allowed to do anything outside of the script. Moreover, when did it become policy to disallow customer’s information regarding who managers are? No reasonable customer is asking for personal contact details. What is the harm in providing the work number and email address? Especially since there are no other avenues to get issues resolved. Increasingly this information cannot be found on the websites either. Only numbers to the general customer service lines with people who are ill equipped to offer the needed assistance.

I refuse to believe that companies are intentionally frustrating their source of funds aka customers. Hopefully, they will take the necessary steps to look into rectifying these issues. It is quite unlikely that it will be a simple fix but the longer it takes to begin looking into the gaps in processes and human capital needs, the greater the chances that customers will find alternative solutions and continue to sully your brand everywhere.

Alex-Ann Green MBA, MS Customer Experience Strategist | hello@getthespike.com

Aiden Jokomba a football star

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Aiden Jokomba

Neolita Lawrence – Staff Reporter

Born in England to a Nigerian father and a Jamaican mother, Aiden Jokomba, whose favourite quote is “Proper preparation prevents poor performance”, is a football sensation on course for the big times.

The 18-year-old, who plays as a striker but can also operate as a winger, has been in the Caribbean island of Jamaica since he was six months old when his beloved mother decided to move back to her homeland.

Astute in his books but possessing a shy personality, Aiden is now reportedly on the verge of inking a scholarship with a Florida-based university, months after departing the famed Cornwall College institution located on Pleasant Hill in Montego Bay St. James.

The holder of ten Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) subjects (Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Social Studies, Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics , Physical Education, Geography and IT) as well as Communication Studies and  four other CAPE subjects, Aiden started out playing football at a tender age, influenced by his travelling with his uncle while residing in the volatile community of Norwood.

The player, who represented Melbourne Mind Games in the Senior League (Major League) now in the Parish League before making a recent switch to the Western CONFED Super League outfit, Falmouth in the last transfer window, says he would like to one day go professional as a footballer.

“It’s my deepest desire. I hope it will happen but in the meantime, I will continue to pursue my education as that is very important to my future living and that of my family, especially my mother,” whmo he describes as his ‘number one fan’.

“I know of my father and communicated with him once when I just went to Cornwall, but I don’t know him… he’s never been around.

“She is the only parent I have,” he affectionately noted of his mother. “She’s always there for me and with me. She comes to my games, supports me in every way and pushes me all the time to work hard. She is also my loudest critic as she is a great motivation and she really believes in me.

“It’s always been me and her since the day she got pregnant so….it’s really great she’s very special to me” he said, flashing a broad smile on his face.

He says though acquiring his subjects he has not yet found the career path he would take should he not make it in football. “I’m not there yet as I don’t see anything that suits me.“

STARTED PLAYING

The talented Aiden, who has a baby face and a laid back look, is often overlooked by most opponents, but he says the early lessons he received in his early days of playing has helped him of the head start needed from the tender years of his introduction to the sport by a close family member.

“I was first introduced to the sport by my uncle as I would always follow him to training with Glendevon (a team that once participated in the Parish Senior League). He would take me to the trainings with him each day and from there, I developed a love for the game and was taught the rules and so on.”

Despite the early introduction to the sport though Aiden said he never really started playing until he mother moved and he attended the Anchovy Primary School.

One of two children for his mother, he recanted his first outing. “My first competitive level of football was when I represented Anchovy Primary in the annual Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) Under-13 competition held every year at the UDC field.”

The soft-spoken player, who can be lethal in front of goal, said it was not always his desire to attend Cornwall College where he went on to establish himself as being among one of the best strikers to come through the gates.

“Cornwall College was never a school I had on my mind. I grew up favouring Rusea’s High in Hanover and St. Georges College in Kingston as schools I would love to go, especially the ‘Light Blues’, but living in Montego Bay, just me and my mother, it was far from us and my mother never put it as a selection when I sat my exams and I passed for Cornwall so I just went there,” he said.

A supporter of Chelsea in the English Premier League, Aiden listed Belgian hot-shot, Eden Hazard, as his idol player on the international scene as he’s a match winner and possesses exceptional dribbling skills, some assets he believes he has and can also learn from his idol.

When not on the field, Aiden, who helped Cornwall College lift their last da’Costa Cup title back in the 2016 campaign, says a plate of Ackee and salt fish with yam, banana and dumplings is his favourite dish.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

Quizzed about his achievements to date in football, Aiden, known for his speed with the ball at his feet and his lethal prowess in and around the 18-yard box, revealed that his great delight to date is lifting the ISSA Super Cup last year.

“ Both it and the d’Cup (2016) are equally important but because of its significance, it was a historic achievement becoming the first rural team to win the title. That was really special to me and so yes, I rate it high on my slender list, better than even the d’Cup.”

The striker also listed his strike against Camperdown in the second round of the Super Cup as his most memorable ever scored. That goal saw him pick up a ball deep in midfield, powering past three defenders, before slapping a fierce grounder into the corner of the net.

Now a resident of Anchovy, he closed by saying new challenges and a hope to make a push towards the big times, plus again working with coach, Dr Dean Weatherly, were among the reasons he made the move from Melbourne to Falmouth.

‘…SIX MONTHS LEFT TO LIVE’

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NO WORRIES: Dre Morris is one happy lad here in Physical Education class, before he was diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia.

Sashane Shakes – Staff Reporter

Renae Foster has been living a nightmare. On days when she is able to dodge her 7-year-old son’s question of whether or not he is going to die, she has to contend with the painful reality that if he doesn’t get the requisite help, he may in fact die soon.

“He keeps asking me, ‘Mummy me go dead? Tell me the honest truth,’ because he realizes what’s going on,” a burdened Foster shared.

ADMITTED: A glum Dre Morris sits on his bed at hospital where he now spends his days after being diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia recently.

Now caught in a scramble, Foster is running out of time to secure funds to cover the expenses concerning her ailing 7-year-old, Dre Morris. Morris was diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia – a rare disease in which the bone marrow and the hematopoietic stem that cells that reside there are damaged, and unless he is able to participate in a study in the United States, he may not be cured of his illness.

Foster, a sales representative, has already secured passports for both her and her son, and plans are afoot to have the two obtain their visas. Additionally, through a referral programme at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, treatment and boarding are being covered by the host institution which will be treating Dre – the National Institute of Health, based in Maryland, USA.

The problem, however, is that Foster is unable to source airfare to and from the US, and has not been able to acquire much-needed funds to cover food for them both to last the required seven months.

For Dre and his rare illness, his treatment is expected to last up to five years in the US.

‘SICKY, SICKY’

It was at their home in Porto Bello, St. James last October that foster started noticing subtle glitches in her son’s health, which she initially passed off as Flu symptoms. Dre would also have instances of fever that fluctuated from severely high to low, which brought with it a mild cough that eventually, with medication that was prescribed after a visit to the Montego Bay Comprehensive Clinic (Type V), went away.

“All of a sudden, him just ‘sicky sicky’. He’s been sick before but not like this. As him sick and better so, him sick again,” admitted Foster.

Shortly after, when it was believed that his Flu had cleared up, his skin started showing wheal marks. Foster presumed it to be the result of food poisoning, but then, the fever flared up again.

The final straw, however, was when Dre started having nose bleeds, as well as when he started vomiting blood, which resulted in Foster rushing him to the Cornwall Regional Hospital. There, his nose was plugged and blood tests conducted, which revealed that he had a low blood count as a result of Aplastic Anaemia.

“To me he probably has about six (6) months left to live if he doesn’t start receiving treatment soon. It sounds bad and I hate to think that way but it’s how I feel. I can’t stand to see the situation he’s in,” said a teary-eyed Foster.

LOVED BY ALL

“The worst part is that he is a good kid. Anything me ask him to do, him do it.  Me no feel say him deserve this,” said his mother.

A student of the Chetwood Memorial Primary, Dre got good grades and Foster relayed that his teacher and his classmates miss him.

Dre’s father, Clifford Morris, is hoping for a miracle for his son real soon. But his older brother, Raphel Ferguson, who also attends Chetwood Memorial Primary, sends positive energy to his brother by making encouraging short videos on his mother’s smartphone, which Foster shows to Dre on visits.

“Me just want me son fi go back to normal. Me will take all the help me can get fi him before the time run out. Him bright and him helpful, so him no deserve none a this.

“He keeps asking if he’s going to die. He didn’t really understand at first but as of late, he has been questioning me about it because he knows he’s supposed to be at school with other children. It’s a mother’s worst nightmare me a go through.”

Anyone wishing to help Dre Morris can contact his mother at (876) 281-5019.

Neville Gilchrist: The ‘Dada’ of MoBay’s barbers

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Tip Top Family: Neville Gilchrist, aka Dada, sits surrounded by some of his barbers at his Tip Top Barber Salon, located at 122 Barnett Street in Montego Bay.

Alan Lewin – Contributor

One barber in St. James that must be credited for dedicating his life to his craft, cutting, dressing, grooming, styling and shaving the hair of men, boys and sometimes females in Montego Bay is none other than Neville Gilchrist, affectionately known as ‘Dada.’

A busy fellow, he may not be available to trim and shave, and put all those fancy hairstyles on all men and women who want a good trim, but one thing’s for sure, if you asked a barber in Montego Bay where he learnt his trade, there is a strong possibility he will say from ‘Dada’. The 74-year-old barber is responsible for teaching well over 300 barbers the trade in a career that spans over 57 years.

Loyal Customer: Neville Gilchrist trims one of his long-standing customers at his shop. Alan Lewin photos

Dada has the distinction of being the oldest barber in St. James. He was born in St. Thomas but migrated to Montego Bay with his father and grandmother at just 3 years old. His father worked on a sugar estate to provide for him and his other siblings. After his father left the sugar estate he went straight into barbering, setting up his shop at San Souci building located on 17 Orange Street. At San Souci, Dada learnt the art of being a good barber alongside his father for seven years.

Dada then ventured into his own barber shop business, setting up shop at 122 Barnett Street, known as Tip Top Barber Salon.The barbering trait definitely runs in his family as one of his brothers, Billy, is also a barber working in the tourist capital.With his barbering skills, Dada taught four of his sons the art of barbering, which saw them all becoming successful plying their trade in the United States and parts of England.

HIGH PROFILE CUSTOMERS

Over the many years in the business, he has trimmed several persons of high profile status such as judges, lawyers, doctors, custodes, and musician Shabba Ranks, whenever he came to Montego Bay for stage shows. “I have trimmed several boys who are now men, and I still trim some of them today. Even Reggae Sumfest former promoter Johnny Gourzong; I trimmed him when he was a small boy. I can remember him coming with his parents to my shop,” said a proud Dada.

Over the years, he has copped two awards, the Sam Sharpe Award and the Kiwanis Award for services to the community as an outstanding barber.

At age 74, Dada plans to do another year in the profession after which he will retire.

For a decade now, using Ticka music, he has been trying his hands at show promotion using his famous Clock Tower Club to provide entertainment for thousands of people on a monthly basis. “I hope long after I’m gone, someone will teach the trade to the youngsters just like what I have done,” said Dada, adding his gratitude for the support over the years. “I want to thank all the people who have supported my business over the years, both the barbering and the club parties,” said Dada.

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