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Never before seen – Heavy rainfall drenches Hanover

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The ‘car’ can swim? This car is almost completely covered in water from the consistently heavy rainfall which led to a flash flood in Lances Bay

Sashane Shakes

“We have never had rainfall like this before in Hanover.” That’s the assessment of Member of Parliament for Western Hanover, Ian Hayles, in reaction to the heavy rains which affected the parish on the weekend resulting in houses and cars being washed away and persons marooned. 

He admits that this is the worst he has seen rainfall in Hanover and the flash flooding from the consistently heavy rainfall led to the washing away of some small houses in the parish, which has left residents homeless. Areas of the Brissette community were also significantly impacted by the floodwaters.

“We’ve never had rainfall like this before in Hanover. We need urgent attention in clearing the major drains in the parish,” said MP Hayles. He pointed out that the drainage system is a deciding factor in the flooding as the blockage prevented the water from washing away fast enough.

He told the Western Mirror that with the start of the hurricane season just days away, last weekend’s flooding was a warning as to how drastic the situation can become and possibly escalate to more dire instances if the matter is not dealt with early.

The Western Hanover MP is calling on the government to fix the infrastructural damage and create a bypass road in Lances Bay, which was heavily inundated by the flash flooding.

The water does not seem to be subsiding anytime soon

“In terms of being a major corridor and an intrinsic aspect to the tourism product, persons, some of whom were tourists, travelling from Montego Bay, had to turn back to go to Negril and those venturing into Negril had to return to Montego Bay.”

He said not only was the tourism product, affected but no commerce happened due to the over five feet of water.

Motorists reportedly ran from their vehicles that the five (5) feet deep water threatened to wash away and pedestrians scrambled to find dry land and safety.

The fire department was alerted to assist residents of the Lances Bay community who were stranded. However, the fishermen of the nearby fishing village assumed the role of first responders until the fire department arrived to take over.

The MP expresses gratitude to the fishermen as he admits they did the bulk of the work before the arrival of the fire department.

An assessment of the situation is being conducted and Food for the Poor is working to provide for the residents who lost their homes as a result of the flooding.

‘Waga Waga’ Champions

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Pavel Smith (2nd left), Brand Manager at Charley’s JB Rum, flashes a broad smile as he and ecstatic Wadadah players cling to the winning trophy following the final of the Western CONFED Super League final at Jarrett Park on Sunday. Wadadah outlasted Faulkland 6-5 on penalties to clinch the title after the teams had played out a 1-1 full and extra time draw. Also shring in the moment are Linnel McLean, head of the CONFED (1st left ); Nardia Kiffin-Green, Marketing Manager at Charley’s JB Rum (2nd right) and Sheridan Samuels, President of the Hanover Football Association (1st right) Noelita Lawrence photo

Noelita Lawrence

  • Charley’s JB Rum CONFED

 

After five months of competitive action and approximately 131 minutes of tense match-ups, it took a decisive penalty from Andrae Thomas to send the 2017/2018 Charley’s JB Rum Western CONFED title to veteran club Wadadah in the championship game played on Sunday, May 13, at Jarrett Park.

Wadadah needed the dreaded penalty kick to stun the high-flying and much-fancied Faukland, winning 6-5 from the spot after the teams had played out a bruising 1-1 full and extra time draw.

Defender Fabion Gifford, National youth representative Calwayne Allen, Christopher Thompson, Curtis Palmer, Ronaldo Thompson and Thomas with the winning kick, were the scorers for the Wadadah team with star player and captain, Tysahn Hill, who should have won it for them after five kicks missing.

Hill slammed his spot kick against the base of the post, giving Faulkland a way back in which they failed to take.

Renaldo McLeish, Jelani Nicholson, Husana Johnson, captain of the day Chevoy Watkin and Marvin Sangster found the back of the net for Faulkland, while it was Kyle Anderson and Courtney Allen, with the last kick for his team, who missed.

Earlier, Christopher Thompson headed Wadadah into the ascendancy, getting on the end of a timely run down the right flank.

However, a moment of weakness in the defensive third handed Faulkland an opportunity which they accepted when substitute Odean Snow swept in from close range, getting on the end of a well-delivered free kick from about 35 yards.

RICKETTS’ PLAN WORKED

Wadadah’s jubilant coach, Daniel Ricketts, was very pleased with the end result, revealing that his plan to nullify their attacks down the flanks worked out well. “They used the width of the field well and that was one of our main plans, to stop their flow down the flanks and it worked well as you saw. We stopped their attacks down the flank through our wingbacks and it paid off for us,” he noted.

Ricketts also pointed out that his team was well-prepared to go into penalties. “Since the semi-finals we started practicing penalties. We were prepared, if it came to that”.

CAGEY

Earlier in the contest, both started out cagey before Wadadah settled and started to ask questions of the revamped Faulkland backline without their inspirational central man, Okieve Lewis, out through a leg injury.

Though Wadadah settled quickest, playing with an attacking purpose and zest down the flanks, Faulkland carved out the first real chance, as Gary Taylor missed a sitter from close range.

Obrian Robinson, named the MVP, then responded for the Wadadah team but his effort on the run whistled just over the elbow of the goal. He then set the park alight when he hauled three Faulkland defenders along the touchline, but his ball across goal went tamely into the hands of the Faulkland custodian.

The teams went into the break locked at 0-0.

During the second half, Deshaun Woolery struck a furious shot on the turn, whistling over the bar after out-muscling two defenders outside the penalty area. Kyle also got a glorious chance for Faulkland, but his goal-bound shot was stopped by a defender as they threatened to take over the encounter.

Their pressure would pay off when Snow popped up to find the equalizer, forcing the game into extra time.

Both offered chances in the extra time period but the keepers and defenders were equal to the task as they held on for the dreaded penalty kicks.

Wadadah walked away with $200,000 and the sponsors’ trophy.

The team will turn its attention to the start of the four-team JFF playoffs scheduled to get underway this weekend.

Faulkland for their efforts received $120,000, while Reggae Youths and Harmony for their third and fourth place finishes, collected 90 and $60,000 respectively.

 

‘Tappa’ inks deal

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Theodore Whitmore

The long-standing contract dispute between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and head coach, Theodore Whitmore, was officially resolved on Monday, with the coach putting pen-to-paper on a four-year deal, to run from June 1 through December 31, 2022. 

Whitmore, who has been at the helm of the national programme for the past two years following the forced removal of German Winfried Schafer, had resigned from his position on April 6, 2018, after a lengthy and well-documented disagreement surrounding his remuneration package.

The former national midfielder had reportedly demanded $1.5 million a month, with the JFF president Michael Ricketts noting that the organization could not meet his demands.

In January, Whitmore gave the JFF a one-month ultimatum to present an improvement on the reported $500,000 that was offered, and when this was not forthcoming, tendered his resignation to the JFF board.

Both parties went back to the table after the intervention of Minister of Sport, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange and though no financial details were outlined, it was confirmed that the coach has committed to guiding the national senior team for the next four years.

“The Jamaica Football Federation wishes to advise that National Senior team Head Coach, Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore today signed a four-year contract with the Federation. The effective date is June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022,” read a release from the JFF.  “This followed a meeting led by President of the JFF, Mr. Michael Ricketts.”

“Both parties are satisfied with the terms and conditions of the contract and now look forward to planning and executing on preparation for the Senior team’s engagement in upcoming games and tournaments.”

Whitmore took over from ousted German coach Winfried Schäfer in October 2016. He had been called to the table by the late Captain Horace Burrell.

He has since guided the Reggae Boyz to the Caribbean Football Union and CONCACAF Gold Cup finals last year, where the team lost both games to Curacao and the United States respectively.

Under his guidance, the team has also elevated to a high of 48th on the FIFA World  rankings, their highest position since 1998.

 

Agent Sasco for MoBay Crab Festival – the perfect family event

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Agent Sasco

In just a few days, specifically just three days away, Saturday, May 19, the MoBay Crab Festival, the day and night family event, will buzz to life the popular Montego Bay chill spot, Pier 1. Although many will come to see the near magical transformation of that world-renowned spot into the biggest kiddies’ village in Western and perhaps all of Jamaica, the entertainment package will be the magnet that keeps patrons planted at the venue. If anyone doubts that, they will quickly have to reconsider when Agent Sasco takes to the stage.

Sasco, whose real name is Jeffrey Campbell, is a master of the stage and although his past as Assassin is behind him, make no mistake – Agent Sasco is a legend in the dancehall circles. That ‘it quality’ that propelled him to the heights of dancehall stardom is still with him, and it will be on show when he wows the many families that will be turning out to enjoy a day of pure, family fun.

The 35-year-old is riding on his most recent hit, Winning Right Now, and he will have many more to roll out once May 19 rolls around.

Tickets will be going for $1,000 presold and $1,500 at the gate, as all is in place for a grand celebration of food, fun, laughter and top-notch entertainment.

Though Agent Sasco is under the spotlight today, the likes of gospel powerhouses Jermaine Edwards and the dynamic duo of Anavah Love Jones, Chris Martin and Govana, among others, will be there to sway the crowd. It is an entertainment package worthy of an international concert, so families are expected to turn out to the one-of-a-kind event.

It will be the perfect cocktail of fun for all ages, as there will be bounce-a-bouts present, face painting, mega slides, trampolines, and a game arcade, as well as the ageless thriller, rock climbing, available for all to enjoy. Partaking in these adrenaline-inducing activities will come at no additional cost to the families that turn out, as all will be covered under the reasonably priced tickets to enter the venue. And if those weren’t enough to draw all the families out, we are sure the pizza and hot dog stations, snow cones, cotton candy and ice cream, among others, will be sure to do the trick.

Get your presold tickets at Fontana Pharmacy (MoBay, Savanna-la-Mar, Kingston, Ocho Rios), at Pier 1 or at Parts To Go in Falmouth.

Do your families a favour and show up to the MoBay Crab Festival on Saturday, May 19, you will be glad you did.

 

Minister pushes for innovative tourism

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Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism (2nd left) in animated conversation with Mauricio De Hoyos, Sales Manager for Aruba Networks – Latin America, and Gloria Saravia, Territory Manager for Aruba Networks, shortly after he was introduced by Darragh Fitzgerald-Selby (left), Head of Sales for Digicel Business. They were attending the Digicel Business/ExIm Bank Smart Destination Workshop at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Friday.

Sashane Shakes

 

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, tells small and medium tourism enterprises that to get where they want to be, they have to be driven by experiential tourism rather than the traditional destination tourism at the 2018 Smart Destination Workshop held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Friday, May 11.

“The seismic change that is taking place in tourism today is absolutely mind-boggling. And destinations are undergoing a level of metamorphosis that is faster than they can even recognize themselves,” said the Minister.

MP for East Central St. James, Bartlett, announced that disruptions being faced come from operators out of Japan who are now dealing with robotics and utilizing Artificial Intelligence to show virtual and augmented reality, to create experiences that are predictive so the visitor/customer/consumer can have a level of knowledge and information about what is happening in a particular destination. They are making decisions on the basis of these experiences and they are predicting the outcomes and buying against their predictions.

Brian Bennett-Easy (L), General Manager for Digicel Business, Ricky Purkiss (C), Digicel Business Corporate Sales Manager and Odette Dyer (R), Regional Director for the Jamaica Tourist Board, share a light moment just before getting down to business at the Smart Destination Workshop for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises to receive creative financing and technology options for the latest smart innovation in the hospitality industry. The event was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Friday.

Ative Ennis shared similar sentiments, arguing that Millennials are demanding personalized travel which allows them to have unique experiences in the areas of cuisine, entertainment and other aspects of cultural and local interactions. “The hospitality sector must test new ideas and take an analytics-enabled approach to innovation,” he stated, adding that Big Data and Artificial Intelligence can to help gain meaningful insights into guest behaviour.

Minister Bartlett says that innovation is taking everything we know and have been accustomed to by adding value, enabling more to be achieved from less in terms of creative outlet, greater value, quantitative measure and economic enrichment.

He urged all to “wake up and smell the coffee” because tourism is a brand new mega global industry, “with $8 trillion value last year, 10% of global GDP, 313 million people employed in 2016 and the figure for 2017 went up to 400 million”. He explained that the only industry ahead of tourism in terms of contribution to GDP is the financial services at 19%.

In an illustration, Minister Bartlett explained that the Agri-linkages Exchange (ALEX) app that has been benefitting farmers and by extension, enabling tourism’s success is maneuvred from a smartphone which further highlights that technology is enabling Jamaica’s tourism sector to achieve more from expending fewer resources.

Jamaica, being the most tourism-dependent nation in the world, has 1 in 4 workers within the Caribbean employed to tourism and 31% of the GDP of the region is from tourism.

 

HANOVER HAPPENINGS: Security checkpoints serving useful purpose

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A police officer checks the documents of a motorist at the Great River security checkpoint

The State of Emergency operating in St. James is having a positive effect on surrounding parishes.

Hanover, Trelawny and Westmoreland have been bolstered by these additional security measures as most of the traffic that comes out of St James, Montego Bay, in particular, has to undergo three checkpoints, one in Great River, one in Montpelier and the other at Wilshire. These checkpoints have not only curbed the flow of guns, but it has also sought to hamper the movements of migrant criminals from one community to the other. The effect of these checkpoints has also impacted the lotto scammers in that they cannot move around money as freely as they would like.

I am not saying that these criminal elements don’t continue to do these things, but I am saying that these checkpoints have seriously stopped or slowed these movements and should be made permanent. I don’t think there is any legal impediment to that. We cannot allow our parish borders to be left open again. If we do so, the State of Emergency will have failed to accomplish anything and things will go back to how they were. The State of Emergency is not the cure for crime and many persons are misguided in their expectations. What it has done is stabilize, and that’s in response to rampant criminality, including murders and shootings.

Here are some facts you should know.

What is a State of Emergency?

Section 26 of the Constitution explains a ‘period of public emergency’ as any period during which:

  1. Jamaica is engaged in any war b. There is in force a proclamation by the governor general declaring that a state of public emergency exists c. There is in force a resolution of each House supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of that House declaring that democratic institutions in Jamaica are threatened by subversion.

When can it be declared? 1. When a state of war between Jamaica and a foreign state is imminent 2. As a result of the occurrence of any earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire, outbreak of pestilence, outbreak of infectious disease, or other calamity 3. When action has been taken or is immediately threatened by any person on such an extensive scale, it could likely endanger the public safety or deprive the community, or any substantial portion of the community of supplies or services essential to life. What does it mean?

  1. Extraordinary powers have been given to the security forces 2. Some rights have been suspended.
  2. Members of the security forces may search places without a warrant.

Duration

The proclamation shall remain in force for a period of one month unless extended by the House of Representatives or revoked.

GREAT RIVER CHECKPOINT LACKS RESOURCES

With that being said, it’s sad to see the lack of resources facing the soldiers/police at the Great River checkpoint. At nights, they have no overhead floodlights and they have few or no flashlights to conduct searches. There is only a small white tent that is present and whenever it rains, the officers cannot carry out their functions properly. I see the police officers with no raincoats and I would expect that for an operation that is expected to last this long, they would have had in place temporary sanitary facilities and I am not seeing this. I must, however, commend the police and soldiers who are doing a great work under the trying circumstances. It is for the hierarchy of the security forces to step up and give the officers the tools needed to work effectively. Whilst I seriously doubt that the State of Emergency will be extended further, I would very much like for the border checkpoints to remain. They are serving a great purpose. Enough said.

crgoates@yahoo.com

 

CRH rehab under scrutiny

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Cornwall Regional Hospital

An oversight committee has been named by the Ministry of Health to oversee the rehabilitation of the problem-plagued Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St. James.

The five-member committee, which held its first meeting yesterday, is headed by principal of the University of the West Indies Mona, Professor Archibald McDonald, who is a trained surgeon.

According to the Ministry of Health, the multi-skilled, independent oversight committee for the rehabilitation project at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) is in a move to ensure accountability and provide transparency to the Jamaican public.

Other members of the committee include: Claudette Bryan, president of the St. James Lay Magistrates’ Association; Professor Ishenkumba Kahwa, renowned chemist and deputy principal of the UWI; Errol Alberga, architect and senior partner at Alberga Graham Jamaica, who has done work on the Kingston Public Hospital and Earl Richards, former president of the Airports Authority of Jamaica.

The committee is mandated to review information from the Ministry of Health/PanAmerican Health Organization on the progress of implementation of key project areas for the CRH.

They are also to:

Review reports on the delivery of clinical services at the CRH covering the on-site and off-site locations to which services have been relocated;

Provide recommendations to the Minister of Health on matters related to the execution of the project and advise on any concerns or developments; as well as

Monitor the compliance and progress of the project in relation to implementation of the key project areas and ensure that any required strategic changes are undertaken in a timely manner so that the project achieves its goals.

Mandated to meet monthly or as often as they deem necessary, the committee is, too, to:

Provide direction and assistance in resolving issues that may delay the timely execution of the project; and

Provide monthly updates on the project and the delivery of hospital services to the general public.

Committee Chairman McDonald in expressing confidence in the team said:

“I believe we have quite a competent team to provide oversight for what is clearly a very large project. Professor Kahwa and I have had quite a bit of experience in dealing with mould on the Mona campus and I believe that will serve the committee well. We have two architects, I believe, and there is Ms. Claudette Bryan,” he said.

“I am looking forward to doing this, what is considered a very important job. I am a surgeon by training and also a medical educator; our students are trained at Cornwall Regional Hospital. This is very dear to my heart,” the UWI principal said further.

In thanking the members for their service, Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton said he was confident that they would fulfil their mandate, given their individual and collective experience.

The opposition Peoples National Party, PNP, has called for a commission of inquiry into the operations of the CRH, which has seen the relocation of almost all departments of the multi-disciplinary facility due to a mould contamination, but the government has shot down the call.

Bloodsucking danger

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The Asian Tiger Mosquito Photo source: PestWorld.org

Michael Nattoo/Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporters

  •  Prepare for Asian Tiger Mosquito

Chikungunya, Zika Virus and Dengue Fever are diseases many Jamaicans would rather forget, but with the discovery that a rare and potent breed of vector, known as the Asian Tiger Mosquito, is headed for Western Jamaica, it may not be long before those diseases resurface and wreak havoc once again on the health of Jamaicans not prepared for that imminent danger.

The arrival of the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) to Western Jamaica, coupled with the ongoing rainy season, make for a dangerous combination. As a result, Medical Officer of Health for St. James, Dr. Marcia Johnson-Campbell, is urging that residents ramp up their efforts to destroy potential breeding sites. Should residents fail to heed these words, these mosquitoes could breed and spread diseases at a rate faster than citizens can reasonably counter against them.

DANGER IMMINENT

With the mosquito already in the island (Clarendon) “It is something that we expect,” Dr. Campbell explains to the Western Mirror, “and as the rainy season continues, we will have an increase in the mosquito population. We, therefore, strongly encourage persons to take greater responsibility in terms of looking out for breeding sites in the home and around the yard, and promptly destroy them.”

Though there have not been any reports of Dengue Fever so far in the parish of St. James, the imminent arrival of this most potent vector, which bears similarities to the Aedes aegypti mosquito, could see a drastic resurgence in these cases, which could range in the hundreds.

If measures are not taken now to eradicate the sites and kill existing adult mosquitoes, the arrival of these mosquitoes being discovered for the first time in Jamaica, could make matters a whole lot worse.

DESTROY BREEDING SITES

“Once per week, search your yard for possible sites for breeding of mosquitoes,” Dr. Campbell urges. “Check the flower pots, gutters, tyres, old equipment or furniture out in the yard, air conditioning tray, the tray from the fridge, the dish drainer – check anywhere that water will collect as those things need to be overturned.”

The doctor continued: “Vases need to be washed properly and water changed. Flower pots need to be checked and drums and tanks need to be covered. Garbage needs to be properly collected, containerized or disposed of, so that we don’t accumulate breeding sites,” she explained.

The Asian Tiger or Aedes albopictus mosquito is similar to the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is endemic to Jamaica and is a vector for several diseases to include Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Zika and Yellow Fever.

The discovery comes as the Ministry of Health observes Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week (CMAW) from May 14-20, under the theme: ‘Small bite, big threat, fight the bite, destroy mosquito breeding site.’

THE ASIAN TIGER MOSQUITO: HOW DANGEROUS IS IT?

Just last year May, Professor of Entomology at Cornell University and Mosquito Expert, Professor Laura Harrington, explained to the New York Times that the Asian Tiger Mosquito is one of the more aggressive and dangerous species of mosquitoes. “It really is,” Professor Harrington explained, citing that while the mosquito also feeds on animals, it had a particular liking for human blood. She explained that that combined with the mosquito’s unusually painful and persistent bite, makes it a “real nuisance”.

The Asian Tiger Mosquito is an exotic species and is so named and can be identified by its single white stripe down the centre of its head and back.

Residents are reminded to destroy breeding sites by eliminating areas of standing water, such as those mentioned earlier. As best as possible, efforts should be made to screen all windows and doors, and if venturing outside for prolonged periods, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, or use an insect repellent containing 20 percent DEET.

Thorpe selected for Digicel Elite Basketball Camp

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Anthony Thorpe

Noelita Lawrence

Herbert Morrison Technical High’s fabulous four-year dominance of the Western Division of schoolboy Basketball has extended further, with the unassuming but effective and influential Anthony Thorpe catching the eyes of an international coaches visiting from the National Basketball Association (NBA).

This following his good showing at the recently staged, 2018 Digicel Jumpstart Series held at the National Arena.

At the end of the jam-packed weekend of activities which included technical drills designed to show off and enhance the skills of the players, the lanky Thorpe was one of seven players from a group of seventy-five selected by the coaches.

Thorpe was selected among five Under-16 boys that will be represented at the Elite Camp in Trinidad and Tobago from July 14-15.

Bob MacKinnon Jr, head of the US-based Texas Legends basketball team was on hand for the clinic involving the group of Under-14 and Under-16 along with NBA Director of Basketball Operations – Latin America, Daniel Soares, and Idia Ogala, who leads the NBA’s Marketing Partnerships in Latin America.

Tari Lovell, Group Sponsorship Manager for Digicel, commented, “The participants were fully engaged this weekend.  They showed up, gave it their best, especially with the drills and the 5-on-5 games. They have certainly made all of us very proud. I would like to congratulate the top seven players, all participants, their parents, coaches and supporters for making this weekend an exciting one.”

Seven Under-14 players also received ‘All Star’ commendations for their exceptional effort in the two-day camp.

 

Reassign Supt. McKenzie to JCF PR Arm

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Supt. Gary McKenzie

Anthony Barrett

Ineptitude breeds contempt. They say crime and murder in particular, impact us forcefully when they hit close to home. Unfortunately, I shockingly discovered the truth of that saying. I am left numb, at sea, bewildered and angry. I woke this morning with the refrain ‘Jah know, ah wah dem kill yuh fah?’ playing in my head. I found myself asking that same question as I reflected on the death of my friend, Mikey Dawes, in West End Negril last Thursday morning. Mikey was a true friend and might I say, my fellow Comrade who, for more than twenty-five years, did yeoman work for the PNP in Western Westmoreland.

Politics and friendship aside, this death makes no sense. Frankly, the Western Westmoreland constituency seems to be under threat. Following last week’s carnage in Grange Hill, the security forces heightened their presence in Westmoreland so as to deter further assaults against the citizens of that parish. Incredibly, West End Negril was recently identified by the parish’s senior police officer as one of the problem areas.

In late April 2018, Divisional Commander for the Westmoreland Police, Superintendent Gary McKenzie, was quoted as saying, “There are three main areas: The Savanna-la-Mar space, which includes the Dester, Dallin Street areas; and Morgan’s Bridge (police area), which includes Frome, Little London to a lesser extent; and Negril, especially Red Ground, and we have to focus on the West End to a lesser extent in that particular space.” Given that acknowledgement, one would assume that with the increased police presence in Westmoreland, West End would have seen an increase of police personnel.

QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP

West End is not a big place, where were the police? Let’s say determined murderers will kill you no matter the police presence but given the geography of the West End, I find it implausible that the police were not able to apprehend the killers. That thought gives rise to the questions of how the police responds to murders and the quality of leadership of the police in the parish.

Last week, in one day, marauding gunmen were able to successfully commit seven murders in one small geographic area. Those seven murders and ten wounding did not happen at once but over a few hours and three forays by the murderers. The convenient answer, to stem the carnage, by the police, then was the lack of vehicles to respond to the area not once but thrice. What is this, a banana republic? Couldn’t the police have called for reinforcement?

West End is quite close to the Negril Police Station, officers at that station are charged to police the West End. Did those officers respond with alacrity when Dawes was shot? Were they aware of the shooting? What was their response time? Were they given a description of the vehicles the gunmen drove? Were efforts made to apprehend the gunmen? If so, what were those efforts?

I have long been a supporter of the police force but when there are glaring inefficiencies, I am not going to sit idly by and not criticize them. I have numerous friends in the Negril area, I spoke to a number of them on Thursday and given their almost unanimous statements to me, they are very concerned with the police response. Superintendent McKenzie needs to be held accountable for the snafus of his charges, there can be no two ways about that. In less than ten days, eight lives were snuffed out and in every instance, the police seem to have been caught off guard.

REVAMP JCF LEADERSHIP

Those high-profile murders cannot continue; daylight killings in hedonistic Negril cannot continue. Wanton criminality in that once peaceful parish cannot continue. From my perspective, the leadership of the JCF in that parish needs to be revamped. Obviously, McKenzie has lost the confidence of most stakeholders when no less a person than Senior Medical Officer of Health at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, Dr. Alfred Dawes, debunked McKenzie’s assertion that while there is an increase in crime in the parish, it is not true that Westmoreland is being overrun by hoodlums.

According to Dr. Dawes in that late April report, “The Westmoreland police chief is oblivious to the happenings and if the parish, which has recorded approximately 50 murders since the start of the year, is not being overrun by hoodlums, then its residents are “shooting themselves. Even though the murders are what people are focusing on, we are seeing a lot of shootings that are coming in on a steady stream. It is draining the resources of the hospital, the staff are stressed and the patients and staff are afraid of what is happening around them, so to basically say the place is okay is misleading.”

The new Minister of National Security and the new Commissioner of Police need to divest McKenzie of operational control of the parish. Frankly, this man would rather gloss over the facts rather than acknowledge the spiraling crime rate in the parish. Maybe he should be shunted to the PR arm of the JCF. Peace!

mocobarrett@yahoo.com

DISCLAIMER: Except for our editorials on these pages, the views expressed in other correspondence to us do not necessarily reflect our view and way of thinking.

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