The St. James Health Department is hoping to have dialogue with vendors selling food in a number of areas deemed as hot spots by the department in a bid to prevent a total shutdown of their operations.
Lennox Wallace, Chief Public Health Inspector said there are some areas that the health department is very concerned about, considering that action was previously taken to address public health breaches in recent times.
“The Clock (Barnett Street) area that the council would have spent so much money on and that is looking so good, is one hot spot area. Another area that we are looking at is at Courts where there are vendors 24 hours, Strand Street near to the taxi park, while another area is in front the Pelican on Gloucester Avenue and that area running from Decameron to Dead End; all areas where people are selling food under less than ideal circumstances,” Wallace pointed out.
Speaking specifically about the Gloucester Avenue area, Mr. Wallace said the corporation had authorized a certain number of persons to vend along the strip, but that number had ballooned.
“We want to meet with you. We will sit as a group, it is not a threat, we want to have dialogue with some of these vendors, some located at Dead End, others located in front of the park at Pelican to ensure that the numbers that the corporation would have authorized you do not see triple the number because it is much easier for compliance than for the health department to be closing down and preventing people from earning.”
Mr. Wallace said the health department should not be seen as there to prosecute and close down, but to protect the safety of citizens and to help those who operate businesses to function within the remit of safety.
The police hierarchy in Area One has launched a top-level probe into last Friday’s gun attack on a Trelawny businesswoman resulting in her death and that of one of her alleged attackers.
The dead businesswoman is 50-year-old Jacqueline-Cargill Gardener of Florence Hall, Trelawny and 31-year-old Phillip Desmond Grinion, otherwise called ‘Blacks’ or ‘Stocky’ of Falmouth Street. He was shot and killed by a licensed firearm holder. A gun and several rounds of ammunition were also seized by the police.
Information received by the Western Mirror indicates that about 4:25 p.m. on Friday, Cargill-Gardener was at her business place along Foreshore Road, when she was approached by three men, two armed with guns.
One of the men reportedly opened gunfire at her, hitting her all over her body. A licensed firearm holder, who was close by, challenged the gunmen who tried to escape into a nearby swamp.
The police were called and during search of the area, two men were found suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the men was found clutching a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol with a magazine containing three 9mm rounds of ammunition. The weapon and ammunition were seized.
The men were taken to hospital where Grinion was pronounced dead, while the other, said to be of a Tower Hill, St. James address, was admitted to hospital under police guard.
Meanwhile, a third man listed in connection with Cargill-Gardener’s death, turned himself to the Ulster Spring Police on Monday in the presence of a Minister of Religion.
Cargill-Gardener’s death brings the murder tally in the parish close to thirty since the start of the year, when compared with 21 for the same period last year.
Bianca Findlay (left) and Rasheed Bramwell, the two who were killed in the horrific car crash
Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter
Crashes claim couple, three others
The completely ravaged Honda Civic, in which the couple, 22-year-old Rasheed Bramwell and 20-year-old Bianca Findlay, met their demise, proved yet another case of living fast and dying young, with recent investigations revealing that the tragic accident occurred as a result of speeding, and capped off what was yet another bloody weekend for Western Jamaica.
Bramwell, a bartender, and Findlay, an entertainment coordinator, both of Barrett Town addresses, around 11 a.m., were traveling along the Spring Hill main road in Trelawny, in the direction of St. Ann, when disaster struck. The driver of the vehicle, Bramwell reportedly lost control,causing the car to swerve into the path of an oncoming Yutong bus.
Investigators would later arrive at the scene to witness the result of that collision, which saw nine of the 14 passengers on the Yutong bus – tourists bound for the Sangster International Airport, suffering minor injuries, of which they were treated at hospital and released.
Bramwell and Findlay, however, were not as fortunate.
The Honda Civic in which they were traveling was visibly ripped in two, with the body of Bramwell found crushed in a section of the car, and the body of Findlay recovered some metres away. Reports are that she was catapulted from the vehicle during the collision. Both died on the spot.
The gory accident scene has left police personnel from the Traffic Division of Falmouth Police in absolute dismay, with the lawmen expressing concern for the worrying increase in motor vehicle-related accidents so far this year. Bramwell and Findlay’s demise brings to 16 the total number of vehicular fatalities since the start of the year for that division, seven more than the total recorded for the corresponding period last year (9).
“We will be carrying out more speeding operations and high visibility spot checks, especially going into the festive period,” declared Corporal Kirkland Cross of the traffic department, reiterating the department’s commitment to ensuring drivers maintain respect for the laws governing the roadways.
WESTERN WEEKEND TRAGEDIES
In other tragedies over the weekend, the lives of 35-year-old labourer Jason Thompson of Station Road, Little London; Tean Collin of Lincoln district and 29-year-old Kerol Bernard of Prospect district, all in Westmoreland, all came to an end in various incidents across the West.
About 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, the Frome Police in Westmoreland reported that Collin, who was riding his motorcycle along the Prospect main road, encountered difficulties when he attempted to overtake a parked truck. Another motorcycle, being driven by Bernard in the opposite direction, collided with Collin before he could complete the maneuver.
Both motorcyclists sustained injuries and were taken to hospital, where they both died while undergoing treatment.
That was not to be the last of the lawmen’s worries concerning road fatalities, as mere hours later, yet another collision occurred.
About 12:20 Sunday morning along Bay Road, Little London, Thompson was riding his motorcycle, when he collided with another biker, an unidentified 21-year-old man of a Farm Heights address, traveling in the opposite direction.
Both men received multiple injuries and were taken to the Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital, where Thompson succumbed to his injuries, while the other man was admitted in serious condition.
The police have expressed that they will be ramping up measures over the coming weeks to attempt to curtail this worrying trend.
Herbert Morrison Technical High on the defensive end during action in a preliminary round clash with William Knibb earlier in the campaign. ‘Compre’ have moved on to the second round where they will open their conquest later today at the Montego Bay Cricket Club.
Noelita Lawrence
Nine western schools spread over three groups are through to the second round of the ISSA/Rural Area Netball Competition scheduled to tip off on Tuesday, November 6, with a host of matches at various venues, including the Montego Bay Cricket Club here in St. James.
Former All-Island finalists Anchovy High, Frome Technical, Green Pond High, Herbert Morrison Technical High, Irwin, Montego Bay High, Mount Alvernia High, STETHS and Green Island are the western schools still left battling.
Anchovy, Frome, Green Pond and STETHS have been positioned in Group 1 of the Juniors, while ‘Compre’s’ seniors join two others in the senior section with Green Pond out.
In Group 2, Herbert Morrison Technical High, Irwin and Green Island are among the six juniors with MoBay High, STETHS, Green Island and Mt Alvernia in the senior section.
SHOWDOWNS
The action opens tomorrow, Tuesday, November 6, with four games listed for the Montego Bay Cricket Club beginning at 10 a.m.
The junior team of Green Pond High, first take the spotlight when they come face to face with St. Hilda’s.
In what will be a massive showdown an hour later in the Seniors match-up, hometown rivals MoBay High and Mount Alvernia go head-to-head.
Another all-western affair takes to the court at noon with Herbert Morrison Technical High to face off with Irwin and later ‘Compre’ seniors face St. Hilda’s.
Anchovy High will be on the road when they travel to Manchester High to meet with St. Elizabeth Technical in a 11 a.m. Junior match-up and Frome tackle former many times champions Holmwood Tech at STETHS and Green Island meet Porus.
In more senior matches, Anchovy face off with Hampton, also at Manchester High, starting at noon before STETHS engage York Castle.
The second round will continue on Wednesday, November 14, with another four game schedule at the MoBay Cricket Club.
Anchovy High who qualified as Zone ‘A’ winners and Frome Technical, are the St. James teams with teams in both sections of the competition.
Dancer-turned-singjay, Keja ‘Tall Up’ Christie, is ready to take over the dancehall scene
Michael Nattoo/Alan Lewin
Keja ‘Tall Up’ Christie was famous as a dancer after winning the 2013 International Dancehall Queen Competition at the Montego Bay Pier One. Since then, life has been nothing short of an adventure for the dancer-turned-singjay. She has become one of the most sought-after performers for her dancing in music videos and stage shows, leaving the confident entertainer to conclude that in this new direction as a singjay, she is bound to reap just as much, or even more success.
She has already released a few songs that are already making the rounds on several major radio stations in Jamaica, Africa, France, Italy, Switzerland, Trinidad, Barbados, Japan as well as parts of the US. So far, her most popular of the lot has been her super catchy song, ‘Rocking Dolly’, which, by all indications, is bound to rocket her on to the dancehall scene as a force to be reckoned with.
Considering that this is a new venture, you can imagine her surprise when her video for Rocking Dolly, which was released just last week, amassed over 10,000 views on YouTube, and that number keeps on climbing. There is nowhere to go but up for the Glendevon resident and former Herbert Morrison Technical High School student athlete, who could tell, even then while dominating athletic events, that she was meant to have a future in entertainment. She was, however, singularly focused on athletics, until friends and family members began nudging her onto the path of becoming an entertainer. After ignoring her calling long enough, she soon found herself on a crash course with those ambitions, and when she could no longer outrun it, she yielded to those desires, and decided to take it seriously. “I’ve been to the Lincoln University in the USA to pursue studies in Physical Education, but even then, I knew that music was what I wanted to do. Now, things are looking up in that direction, very encouraging, so I have decided to put my all into it,” said a proud Christie, who is now embracing her peculiar stage name, Tall Up.
In her young, blossoming career, Christie has appeared on ‘Wuk Fah Thursdays’, where she was given her big break by Trophy Sniper, where she absolutely smashed that debut. That’s not all for the ambitious Christie. She has also appeared on Beenie Man’s Summer Sizzle stage show, Boom Sunday, Uptown Monday, Phucket Party, and other shows in Miami and Mississippi in the US.
She is no stranger to hard work, so it is only a matter of time before you will not be escape the seductive and hard-to-ignore sounds of Christie.
Where is Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism? Why has he not publicly responded to the serious charges leveled against Jamaica’s most dependable, yet, most fragile industry? Up to the time of writing, I am not aware of any response made by the portfolio minister. If he has responded, then his response must be forceful enough for all, including me, to see and hear. For those who are not aware, on October 30, 2018, Tresa Baldas of the Detroit Free Press, which is a member of the USA Today network, wrote a scathing and embarrassing article on Jamaica’s tourism resorts which was captioned, ‘Jamaica resorts facing a ‘historic’ sexual assault problem’.
Immediately, the story was picked up by USA Today and instantaneously became international news. The damage done to Jamaica cannot be quantified immediately, however, all stops must be pulled out to counter the negative charges in the article. The minister, who has a propensity to publicly embrace all the positives of the industry, seems to be M.I.A. Where has he gone in the face of the scurrilous charges?
Among those charges are, over the last seven years, 78 U.S. citizens have been raped in Jamaica, according to State Department statistics from 2011-17. One American is raped in Jamaica each month, the U.S. Embassy reports; 12 Americans were raped in Jamaica last year, half of them inside resorts by hotel employees. That report went further to state, “The U.S. government suspects this number may be higher as sexual assaults are often underreported, and the embassy figures don’t include victims from other countries”.
Most incendiary though is the following: “According to multiple victims interviewed by the Free Press, a part of the USA TODAY Network, lawyers, lawsuits and hundreds of State Department and U.S. Embassy records, Jamaica has a sexual assault problem that it is not confronting. And the tourism industry is well aware of the problem”. Mr. Minister, is that last statement true? If so, what have you done to ensure that our guests are protected from the sexual predators that the article alleges are in the industry?
SEX TOURISM
Rape of anyone, irrespective of race or colour is a brutal and venal act committed by one who cannot attain power through no other means. I will not scoff at the allegations. Even if only one incident can be proven, it poses a blot on our reputation. It has long been known that Jamaica’s tourism product included more than white sand beaches, clear blue water, sun, pulsating music, exotic food and the natural vibes of our people. Unspoken of, is the sex tourism or ‘big bamboo’ component. Negril and Ochi Rios are tourist towns known for ‘rent-a-dreads’, yet we have heard nothing of the exploitative white women who come here for sex with a rent a dread.
That being said, there are other startling allegations in the Detroit Free Press investigative piece. It has posited that, according to Trip by Sky Scanner, a California-based travel research company that reviews destinations worldwide, Jamaica was ranked the third most dangerous country for female travelers.
These charges certainly give Jamaica’s principal foreign exchange earner a black eye and knowing how fickle this industry is, it will require all the skills of the Jamaica Tourist Board technocrats and the Public Relations professionals at Finn Partners, the New York public relations firm charged with the marketing responsibility, promotion of the island and crisis management. While those professionals seek ways and means to address those charges, which can potentially cause undue harm to the industry, the minister must and should be seen as responsive, similarly to the posturing made after the ‘Thai Cave Boys’ were rescued.
ACT POST HASTE
Delano Seiveright, who is employed to the minister as a communications consultant, must provide the minister enough information to make a coherent response to the explosive charges made in the USA Today/Detroit Free Press article. Left unchallenged by the minister and tourism stakeholders, Jamaica will lose, not gain, in value the “billions of dollars” as Seiveright glibly opined some months ago. The minister and his coterie must act post haste.
They must give assurance to our guests and the Jamaican people that destination Jamaica is a safe haven and not the lawless, pariah state depicted in the article. It cuts me to the core when I read the following: “This is the Jamaica that the U.S. State Department has repeatedly warned tourists about. This is the island paradise that the government says has a pervasive sexual assault problem.”
To date, I have only seen one push back to the charges and it came from Montego Bay, based attorney-at-law, Gordon Brown. I am going to quote the following from a reputable Jamaican media house: “Jamaican attorney, Gordon Brown, a former adviser to the Jamaica Tourist Board, told USA Today that over the years, his law firm has represented hotels and hotel operators in civil suits involving sexual assaults.
Brown said in several instances the allegations were not substantiated, adding that it does not appear that sex crimes are a widespread problem. He added that a big issue with sexual assault cases in Jamaica is consent. The report quoted Mr. Brown as saying most hotels have a zero-tolerance attitude toward hotel employees having any type of sexual encounter with guests.
He added that the Jamaica Tourist Board tends to monitor and police this information quite rigorously, adding that all allegations of assault, robbery or any incident of criminal activity is typically very rigorously investigated.” What say you Mr. Minister? Let your voice be heard.
Peace! mocobarrett@yahoo.com
Days after frantically searching for her, family members and friends of pastry chef, Tricia-Lee Wynter, were plunged into mourning after a decomposed body was found in the upscale Westgate Hills community in Montego Bay.
Although the police are awaiting DNA results to determine the identity of the partially dressed decomposed body, family members are convinced it is that of the 25-year-old Wynter, who first went missing on Saturday, October 13.
The body was found on the second floor of an unfinished building in that community, with what appeared to be a gunshot wound.
According to the Mt. Salem Police, who are investigating the matter, about 5 p.m. last Thursday, residents had their suspicions aroused when they noted a foul odour coming from an unfinished building in the community.
Upon investigating, a decomposed body, clad only in a black blouse, was observed lying face down. Residents also observed a gunshot wound to the body.
The police were alerted and, on their arrival, they too observed the decomposed corpse, but were unable to definitively say if it was Wynter. Subsequently on Monday, the lawmen submitted evidence for DNA confirmation, and are awaiting the results.
Family members, however, seem fully convinced that the body found was Tricia-Lee’s.
They had earlier issued and attached posters of Tricia-Lee, as well as made several posts across social media, when she first went missing.
They also offered a $300,000 reward for information that would lead to her return.
Now, for them, the gruesome discovery signaled the end to all their efforts of safely bring Tricia-Lee Wynter back home.
‘BEIJING’ GUNNED DOWN
Meanwhile, the police in Hanover are investigating circumstances surrounding the shooting death on Monday night of 26-year-old construction worker, Andre Brown, also known as ‘Beijing’ of a Catherine Hall address in Montego Bay and Claremont in Hanover. This latest shooting took place in the vicinity of the world-famous Tryall Club.
Andre Brown
Information is that Brown was last seen on Monday night driving his Nissan pickup truck along the Sandy Bay main road.
Residents reported hearing explosions Monday night, and Brown’s bullet-riddled body was discovered along the beach near the Tryall Club on Tuesday morning.
The police were called and Brown’s body was removed to the morgue.
They are yet to determine a motive for the killing.
CELEBRATION TIME: Eighteen-year-old Montego Bay Community College student, Sandrine Morris (centre) is flanked by Deputy Junior Mayor, Angelique Pinnock (3rd left) of Montego Bay High and Junior Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Kingsley Clarke (3rd right) of Harrison Memorial High School after the inauguration ceremony held at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre on Wednesday, October 24. Joining the top here in the photo from left are Deputy Mayor of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Leeroy Williams, immediate past Junior Mayor of Montego Bay, Suzanna Hyde, Guest speaker at the ceremony, President of the Lay Magistrates’ Association of Jamaica - St. James Chapter, Mrs. Claudette Bryan and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation’s Community and Civic Affairs Committee, Councillor Dwight Crawford.
Eighteen-year-old Montego Bay Community College student Sandrine Morris is the new Junior Mayor of Montego Bay.
Ms. Morris, who is a second year Arts student, copped the title ahead of Angelique Pinnock of Montego Bay High and Kingsley Clarke of Harrison Memorial High School. By virtue of their placing, Ms. Pinnock was declared Deputy Junior Mayor, while Mr. Clarke was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Junior Council.
All seventeen Junior Councillors will now form the 2018/19 St. James Municipal Corporation’s Junior Council which last year was headed by Suzanna Hyde of Mount Alvernia High School.
The Junior Mayor, Deputy Junior Mayor and Junior CEO were selected following oral presentations on topics relating to the ongoing State of Public Emergency as well as the Primary Exit Profile (PEP).
Following her inauguration, the elated new Junior Mayor of Montego Bay, who hopes to pursue a career in Law and Political Science said, “I am overjoyed! This is a dream that I have had for a long time and, yes! After a tough competition, I am happy to be given the honour of leading the 2018/19 St. James Junior Council. I plan to give this new role my best shot and to work closely with my fellow Junior Councillors in taking the Council to higher heights.”
In paying tribute to her immediate predecessor, Suzanna Hyde, Junior Mayor Sandrine said, “Miss Hyde has given the Junior Council exemplary leadership and has led from the front. I know she is a hard act to follow, but I am prepared to give of my best and with the support of my fellow Junior Councillors and the St. James Municipal Corporation, I am sure this new administration will be very successful”.
Chief Judge for the Montego Bay Junior Mayor Competition, Lisa Golding, before announcing the results, congratulated the students for the great job they did in researching the topics on which they presented. She stated that because of the focused approach which every student took in preparing, the competition was extremely close and anyone could have been crowned Junior Mayor.
Mrs. Golding, who is the Integration Manager at the Urban Development Corporation, UDC in Montego Bay said, “you have done extremely well in researching for this competition. Your presentations were great and I must congratulate you all for being wonderful contestants. The truth is any member of this fabulous group of student could have been crowned the new Junior Mayor which makes you all winners. I know you all will serve this city well in your new roles and I look forward to great things from this new administration.”
The other Judges were Allaine Harvey, Community Relational Manager at the Jamaica Public Service Company-Western Region and Steffon Campbell, Lecturer and Coordinator of CARIMAC at the University of the West Indies, Mona – Western Jamaica Campus.
Meanwhile, guest speaker at the ceremony was President of the Lay magistrates’ Association of Jamaica – St. James Chapter, Claudette Bryan, who encouraged the participants to strive for the highest integrity in all their endeavors.
Mrs. Bryan who also serves on the national committee of the Lay Magistrates’ Association of Jamaica, challenged the Junior Councillors to give of their best at all times and to ensure that their footprints are left on anything that they do or are involved in.
The Junior Mayor competition which forms part of activities to mark Local Government and Community Development month 2018 and the granting of City status to Montego Bay 38 years ago, is designed to stimulate the interest of young leaders in the parish of St. James in governance, particularly at the local level.
Participants are drawn from the 17 political divisions in St. James, along similar lines of the St. James Municipal Corporation, with a division being assigned to each Junior Councillor.
The schools which were represented this year are Montego Bay High, Cornwall College, Harrison Memorial, Herbert Morrison Technical, Green Pond High, St. James High, Irwin High, the Montego Bay Community College, Maldon High, Anchovy High and Cambridge High.
Pictured are sections of the house in New Road, Cambridge, in St. James, which have been destroyed by the recent invasion of tumbling rocks.
Contributed photos
Sashane Shakes
A family living in a valley-like area in the hilly terrains of New Road, Cambridge in St. James, has been left homeless after rocks completely ravaged their dwelling on the morning of Tuesday, October 16.
The six (6)-member family that occupied that two (2)-bedroom home were sent fleeing after boulder-like rocks cascading off the hills shattered their place of residence.
Reports are that on October 16 around 9:30 a.m., three (3) occupants, one a teenager, another a preteen, and an elderly, of the shared abode, were in a room when they heard loud crashing noises in a section of the living room.
Startled, Cleon Nelson, 14 and Leon Nelson, 12, went to investigate, when it was then discovered that boulder-like rocks had crashed into the house. The 14-year-old went back to remove Edward Spencer, 87, but by that time, the stones had blocked the entrance, separating the two (2). An alarm was raised and residents eventually removed the blind Spencer from the house.
The house is located at the base of a hill that recently caught on fire with the blaze put out by members of the community. It is being speculated that the stones which were further atop the hill would have descended, due to heavy rainfall the day before (on Monday), demolishing the house.
Teacher at the Maldon Primary and an occupant of the house, Nyesta Plummer was at work when she received a phone call informing her that the incident took place. With the entire house destroyed, all 6 members have been moved elsewhere. “We are uncomfortable because we are in a little one-room for the time being. We lost everything,” said Plummer.
In the week immediately following the ordeal, two (2) of the three (3) student occupants of the house were prevented from going to school due to necessities relating to such being among the wreckage, however, all are in attendance now.
Bolting into action, Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis, has visited the community to offer support. Davis and his team have removed the stones from the house and will be venturing into the hills to remove any other loose rocks in order to prevent a recurrence of the unfortunate event.
South St. James Member of Parliament, Derrick Kellier and Welcome Hall Division Councillor, Gregory Wint, have also ventured into the community, did their assessments and have pledged to assist.
“Residents from the community and some officials are lending a helping hand and we appreciate all the help we can get. It’s going to take a lot but we’re trying to get back on our feet,” said a grateful and hopeful Nyesta Plummer.
Persons wishing to assist the family of 6 may do so by contacting Nyesta Plummer at 1 (876) 839-9700.
Crime fighters in St. James are still to establish a motive for the brazen daylight murder of 51-year-old taxi operator, David Hylton, of lot 616 Rhyne Park Village, who was shot by a gunman posing as a passenger last Friday.
Reports are that about 8:20 a.m., Hylton was travelling with passengers, including teachers and students, when he stopped to let off a male passenger along the roadway in a section of Rhyne Park.
He reportedly collected the payment and was about to hand the passenger his change, when the passenger brandished a handgun and shot him twice to the back of his head before exiting the vehicle and fleeing the scene on foot.
The police were called and on arrival, the lawmen saw Hylton seated upright in the vehicle with the money he was handling still in one of his hands. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Speaking briefly, one woman who knew Hylton but declined to give her name said she was in shock as she was unaware of anything which could have triggered such a vicious attack on him.
“I am still in shock. I can’t believe it. He was such a nice person who cared about his family and for him to go like this is just heart-rending,” she said.
A taxi operator who also plies the Rhyne Park route, who opted to speak under the cloak of anonymity, said Hylton was a good man:
“All I know was that he was a good man. I don’t know what could have caused such an evil attack on this man, who was going about his business earning a living for himself and his family. Right now, I am having second thoughts about this taxi business,” he concluded.
