HOUNDED: Kirk Patrick Lawrence of Fire House (back to camera) is hounded by Shawn Dee and Conroy Daley of Violet Kickers, while a team member offers support, in action from theSt. James Football Association’s Sandals /ATL Division One League game played at the UDC playing field. The purple and gold-clad Violet Kickers were 2-0 winners, sealing the final place in the semi-final. Violet kickers will face Clubville in the semi-final on Wednesday. Barrington Flemming Photo
Noelita Lawrence
At 5:20 p.m. later today, Monday, April 9, the first finalists in the St. James Football Association Sandals/ATL Divisional One League will be known, when Cambridge tackle Bogue in the opening semi-final game set for the UDC field, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Former champions Violet Kickers and promoted Clubville clash in the second semi-final on Wednesday, April 12, at the same venue.
The four were confirmed qualifiers following the final series of rescheduled games contested.
Promoted Cambridge, who stormed into the last four losing just a solitary game, qualified top of the pack with 21 points, well clear of Clubville, 17, the other promoted side. Clubville’s prospects were significantly enhanced following two rulings in the boardroom.
Violet Kickers amassed 16 to seal their berth and Bogue, three points adrift, with 13.
BOGUE RALLY
Bogue, who missed the semis by a single point last season, sealed the fourth and final slot on Thursday evening, April 5, putting out Fire House’s hopes, after sharing six goals down the middle with Lane in an entertaining affair.
Top striker Christopher Johnson, who had been off the scoresheet in recent games, fired home a timely brace to inspire Bogue’s come-from-behind performance, netting in the 16th and 17th minutes. Kirkland Patterson, in the 53rd minute, was the other scorer for the Bogue team as they held off their opponents who charged with two goals in as many second half minutes.
Otis Anderson, who had silenced the Bogue team when he opened the scoring in the 13th minute, ended with a double for Lane, adding the other in the 68thminute. Dejour Alexander clutched a point for Lane when he popped up in the 7th minute for the final equalizer.
Meanwhile, the game between Paradise and Clubville, which was of academic interest as the latter could finish no higher than second, was not played. Ville were also on the favourable end of their game which ended prematurely with Copperwood.
From what is unfolding on the Montego Bay waterfront and the revitalization of the Jamaica Railway Corporation’s rail leg between Montego Bay and Appleton Estate in St. Elizabeth, I get the distinct feeling that, as Jamaicans, we are about to witness a greater concentration of our national wealth placed in the hands of a few. That is cause for concern and should not be taken lightly by the majority of Jamaicans; it bodes, for us, more desperate economic struggles and troubles.
Earlier this week, I was reading an article on American Oligarchs when it dawned on me that, we here in Jamaica could possibly already have one or more. The unashamedly and unconscionable sharing of Jamaican assets among a few elites suggests that Jamaica is well on its way to becoming an oligarchic society. Britannica describes an oligarchy as “government by the few, especially despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group for corrupt or selfish purposes”.
Certain industry leaders by their actions and political clout have already indicated’ not too subtly, that they will be the beneficiaries of an oligarchic Jamaica. For there to be a successful imposition in Jamaica, those so inclined will most certainly need political cover. Well, the matrix for that to happen is in place given their political connections to the ruling JLP and the raw political power wielded by their surrogates.
Some might not be able to see the connection of the rail spur from Montego Bay to Appleton as connected to nascent oligarchy but it is intrinsic in the grand design. Already, one of the principals in that project controls a sizeable portion of the island’s tourism room stock, owns a fleet of vehicles used in ground transportation to ferry guests from its resorts to and from the airport plus offer tours of scenic sites in Jamaica. With either partnership or ownership of the limited railway line, this company will have complete monopoly of the Jamaican tourism experience. They will be able to ferry cruise passengers from ships to railway depots then back to the cruise liners. In such a scenario, small tourism organs such as JUTA, JCAL and independent taxi operators in the tourism sector will be starved out.
LATERAL INTEGRATION
Make no mistake, this is a classic example of lateral Integration. In business, when someone refers to lateral integration, they are referring to a strategy in which a firm acquires similar firms to increase its market share and profits. Naysayers will claim that isn’t so in this instance but they would have forgotten previous trains dedicated to the tourism product as in the Appleton Express and its forerunner the Governor’s Coach which plied that same route in question.
Clearly, if other hotels, small tourism entities; JUTA, JCAL and independent taxi operators are to be excluded from an expanded tourism offering, which the re-emergence of the train offers, this will be a not too subtle conspiracy in restraint of trade and commerce. As a prevention mechanism, there will have to be an urgent enactment of legislation akin to the American Sherman Antitrust Act which was used in 1982 to break up the monopolistic AT&T. After all, prosperity should not only be for the few.
I have no beef with the return of the railway, heritage tourism and its potential to put more dollars in the coffers of this country. However, I am wary, my problem is that from the little I know, the ownership structure is hazy, who constitutes the consortium that tourism minister Ed Bartlett spoke of when he was quoted as saying, “the last discussion I had, before I went to my meetings in Spain last week, was with the team of entrepreneurs who are putting the dollars together.” Is the Jamaican government a partner in this euphemistic consortium? If it is, what percentages of stake will the Jamaican government own? Will this be another White House? Are other major hotels and small properties included in this venture? For there to be a consortium, there needs to be more than one party given that the word indicates grouping. Who constitutes this consortium? Neither the tourism ministry nor the Office of Economic Growth has indicated that there are others involved in this venture.
ONE IDENTIFIABLE FACE
To my knowledge there is only one identifiable face and entity associated with the venture. Minister Bartlett must now publicly and fulsomely disclose all involved in the railway revitalization exercise. It cannot be that with silence, the government will become aiders and abettors of industry monopoly. As an aside, the revitalization of the railway suggests that it would be used to ferry goods and locals between both points but in reality, this seems to be a rail system dedicated to certain tourism interests.
With the revitalization of the rail leg from Montego Bay to Appleton, there will be dislocation of families who captured and squatted on railway lands since 1988 when Hurricane Gilbert dealt Jamaica’s rail service a death blow. Following the signing of the MOU between the consortium led by CEO of Sandals Resort and ATL automotive, Adam Stewart and the Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC), the Ministry of Transportation and Mining stated that the 55-kilometre segment of the JRC Railway Tracks, adjacent lands and buildings including civil infrastructure, such as, over and under bridges and tunnels are to be rehabilitated and developed into Jamaica’s first heritage tourism tour via the railroad.
In that eventuality, 168 households from Bogue to New Ramble will be displaced. Already, bulldozers and sledge hammers are in place for the forced removal of approximately five hundred persons living and squatting illegally on railway lands. Attorney General and Member of Parliament, Marlene Malahoo-Forte M.P (W.C St. James) in whose constituency these persons reside cannot be allowed to sit idly by without a resettlement alternative while persons are removed forcibly. I need not remind the MP that five hundred votes can win or lose an election. I am hoping she is familiar with the World Bank’s assessment that people removed for development projects must be put in a position that will make their lives much better off than they were before the construction.
RELOCATION
If she isn’t, I will point her attention to the following, World Bank Discussion Papers: The Urban Environment and Population Relocation by Michael M. Cernea “When relocation is unavoidable, efforts should be made to minimize it and to ensure that those relocated are assisted to at last restore their former living standards and earning capacity, and if possible to improve them. Displaced persons should be (a) compensated for their losses at replacement costs, (b) given opportunities to share in project created benefits, and (c) assisted with the move and during the transition period at the relocation site. Similar policy principles regarding population displacement and relocation were adopted in December 1991 by the governments of all OECD countries for their international aid agencies (OECD 1991).
Both the Bank’s policy and the OECD guidelines explicitly state that all resettlement programs must be development programs as well, and that measures must be taken to improve the conditions of those dislocated and prevent them from becoming permanently impoverished and destitute. To achieve this goal, the implications of resettlement must be pondered from the earliest stages of the project’s preparation. At the same time, a range of development options for those displaced must be built into a full resettlement plan. The key characteristic of the Bank’s policy is a shifted from a welfare-like approach, limited mainly to cash compensation, to a development-oriented, integrated approach that can help settlers rebuild a self-sustaining production base and habitat.” Peace! mocobarrett@yahoo.com
A proud-looking and appreciative Custos Conrad Pitkin (right), adorned in his National Honour insignia Order of Distinction – Commander Class, while holding his certificate, both of which were presented to him by Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen (left), acknowledges the response of the audience following the ceremony.
Sashane Shakes
In what is seen as a historical move, the new Custos of St. James, Bishop Conrad Pitkin, was also awarded the Order of Distinction, Commander class, following his installation as the number one citizen of the parish on Thursday, April 5, 2018.
Custos Pitkin’s appointment to the post late last year followed the resignation of his predecessor, businessman Ewen Corrodus, due to ill health, after eight-and-a-half years in office.
Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen, headed the list of dignitaries that included Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, Custodes of other parishes and Justices of the Peace, in attendance to witness the installation at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.
In his congratulatory address and presentation of the Grand Commission and the Magistrates’ Roll for St. James to Custos Pitkin, Sir Allen highlighted the time-sensitivity of the installation given the public scrutiny that has recently been forced onto St. James in its fight against crime and violence, adding that this type of leadership was needed now more than ever to provide moral direction for the citizens of the parish.
The Governor-General expressed his confidence as he formally presented the newly-instated Custos, pointing out that “he knows the parish very well, is a prominent and religious civic leader who is integrally involved in his own solving of the socio-economic and social problems”. The Governor-General reinforced that Custos Pitkin was not “entering uncharted territory because his efforts over the years to reach out to the grassroot communities to motivate and inspire young people, especially the unattached youth, has earned him the experience necessary to serve as their first citizen.”
The Governor-General urged Custos Pitkin to focus on the youth as they make up a large demographic of St. James.
Presenting remarks from the Prime Minister, MP for Northwestern St. James and Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang, acknowledged that the appointment of Bishop Pitkin as Custos of St. James would bring “great benefit to provide leadership and positive contribution to this community and this nation” being that he was a servant of the nation.
HUMBLING EXPERIENCE
In his response, Custos Pitkin admitted that his appointment was “a humbling experience” and pledged to give of his best. He too expressed disappointment with the notorious activities spread across St. James and said this called for “decisive and transformational leadership, the kind of leadership that will instill hope in our citizens and at the same time create synergies that unite us as one people with a common goal; the goal to restore St. James to the place of peace and tranquility which we are accustomed to.”
Custos Pitkin remarked that, “a country’s most important resource is its people when they create a positive energy,” and as such, he extended an invitation for “all to join in partnership to unearth the solutions for a more peaceful and unified parish”, even as he also expressed optimism for the restoration of peace in a unified St. James.
As Custos, Bishop Pitkin supports the Governor-General on national and civic initiatives; promote the rule of law, public order and civic right; recommend the appointment of Justices of the Peace and supervises the execution of legislative functions.
Both the Governor-General and Custos Pitkin lauded former Custos, Ewen Corrodus for doing a sterling job and President of the Lay Magistrates’ Association – St James Chapter, Claudette Bryan, for her outstanding contribution while acting as Custos for nearly two years.
Preceding the swearing-in, there was a colourful ceremony in which the Governor-General took the Royal Salute and inspected a Guard of Honour.
The ground on which Miss Spence’s home sat before it was allegedly set ablaze by a young man whom she said had threatened to do just that
Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter
A mother’s desperate cry
Homeless, with no money and buffeted by a seething depression triggered by what she calls a lacklustre justice system, 40-year-old mother, Taneisha Spence, has seen her whole life crumble before her.
With tears welling up in her eyes, Miss Spence related that her tale of woes began when the six-apartment board house in which she and her three daughters lived at Porto Bello Mews, Montego Bay, was burnt to the ground by fire, purportedly set by a young man in the community on Monday, March 26.
“We lost everything. I had over $100,000 Jamaican dollars and a hundred US dollars in the house; all of that went up in flames. The birth certificates, our clothes; all we had was the clothes on our backs. The dress I am now wearing is not mine. I have no money, nothing”, explained Miss Spence.
Miss Spence, who is a practical nurse who works in Barbados, returned to Jamaica in October last year and was advised by her husband that a young man in the community was making advances towards their fifteen-year-old daughter.
“This boy is like a plague. I had a talk with him and my husband had a talk with him and he stopped for a while but my husband left the island in March to seek employment overseas, and this boy not seeing him going to work in the days began to take set at my gate. My daughter said ‘Mommy I am afraid of this boy’ so I went and told him she is a child, leave her alone,” said Spence.
He, however, persisted and began making demands of Spence to give him money; she did not and went to the police station to make a report and was given a receipt to take to the Family Court to take out a restraining order. Spence later made a report to the Mount Salem police who came to the community but upon seeing the lawmen, the young man fled.
Spence related that the young man returned to the area and began to make demands that she remove a light on the outside of the house as it was disturbing him.
THREAT
“He began speaking about it a week before the fire that the lights must be taken down but I did not pay him any mind. So, the Sunday night he was adamant that I remove the light so I said to him ‘This is my house and my yard so what you want in my yard.’ But I believe the light was projecting in a storeroom in the yard, and he may be staying there. The boy threatened to burn the house down. So I went to the police and filed a report”, she explained.
She divulged that she did not take the threat to burn down her house lightly because the young boy had burnt out and shot at another neighbour not too long ago.
She said she felt uncomfortable and took her children to her mother’s house on Sunday, March 25.
On the fateful day of Monday, March 26, Spence said she drove the car to the brow of a hill close to where she lived, at which time the young man cut the tyres of the car and again issued a threat to her.
She wasted no time and went to the Freeport Police Station where she was told to speak to Superintendent McKenzie, but he was not available. It was while she was waiting to speak to another officer that she received a frantic call from her neighbour saying that her house was on fire.
“I literally begged the police to give me a lift up to the house because the boy set the house on fire and they told me they have no vehicle. I ran out into the yard and I begged an officer in a vehicle with three policemen, who helped me.”
She got there but the house was already engulfed in flames.
POLICE FAILED
“The police have failed me on numerous occasions. I filed so many reports with them about this boy. I asked them to come and stay a little while in the community so they could apprehend him, but nobody could stay long enough to catch this boy. Now see what has happened.”
Spence says she is facing desperate times, and although she has received some assistance by way of basic food items, she has no money and no clothes. She has been trying to sell her car to get some money to replace lost documents, and to properly fend for her children but so far, there are no takers yet.
“I am desperate now, I need money to replace the documents. My daughters and I are due to leave the island, but we can’t do anything without money. This boy has wrecked our lives and the police have not done enough to help.”
She cried sexism, explaining that she outlined how the law enforcers could approach strategizing and executing techniques to detain the boy but they seemed to have not been taken into consideration. “I know how he moves because I have to watch him in order to protect my daughter. I told them exactly how to catch him but they did nothing still”. Spence questions why it is that in a State of Emergency, the law enforcers are unable to catch a small boy.
Mayor Sheridan Samuels, who is also President of the Hanover Football Association, does a ceremonious kick-off, before the start of the competition.
Craig Oates
The Ian Hayles-sponsored Hanover Major League Football Competition kicked off with a bang on Saturday at the Rusea’s High School playing field. A large crown gathered to see last year’s beaten finalists Sandy Bay FC Tackle Claremont. Before the first ball was kicked, the President of the Hanover Football Association, who is also the Mayor for Lucea, Sheridan Samuels, introduced the teams to the new sponsor of the competition, Western Hanover Member of Parliament, Ian Hayles.
In his charge to the players, Hayles reiterated the importance of discipline in sports, as well as the importance of sports in nation-building.
He stated that he saw the need to assist the Hanover Football Association after it came to his attention that the football competition was without a major sponsor, as it had lost long time sponsor Captain Bakery, whose principal owner, Captain Horace Burrell, died last year. “Discipline is very important in everyday life, and it is no different in sports. I implore you all to give of your best and develop your skills,” Hayles said to the group. He further committed to assisting the development of football in the parish in whatever way he can. Mayor Samuels thanked MP Hayles for his contribution and pledged to ensure that the competition is run efficiently and welldisciplined.
He also highlighted the fact that there were so many young players who will be taking part in this year’s competition, adding that “discipline is key to our development of the sport in the parish because with so many young players coming on board, they have to get a good start.” He thanked MP Hayles for his financial commitment, which he stated will go a far way in uplifting the sport in the parish.
GAME TIME
In the opening game played, Claremont ambushed preseason favourites Sandy Bay FC, as clipping them 2-1. Akeem Williams scored the opening goal in the 25th minute after a great solo run, but Hugh Parker pulled Sandy Bay level in the 74th with a well-timed goal seconds later. However, Sewayne Stewart ensured Claremont got all three points, as he scored from inside the six-yard box to secure the win.
Competition resumes on Monday, April 9, 2018, 3:30 p.m.
Esher Utd vs. Super Star Y.C @ Watson Taylor Park
Hopewell Chargers vs. Johnson Town F.C @ Bethel Primary Sch.
Lamara Distin shows the number one sign after winning the girls U-20 title at the CARIFTA Championship in Nassau, Bahamas.
Western athletes played their part as Jamaica secured its 34th straight hold on the annual CARIFTA title, after three days of competition at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. The young Jamaicans ended the Easter weekend event with another staggering medal haul, 82. The collection included 44 gold,27silver and 11 bronze.The host nation, Bahamas ended with 24, 6 gold, 11 silver and seven bronze. The Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 3 gold and 4 silver each, and bronze, were the closest finishers to the all-conquering Jamaican aggregation.
Athletes from the Westmoreland-based Petersfield continue to showcase their talents, with Ocker Myrie walking away with two medals, adding gold to her 100 metres silver. Myrie stormed to23:34 seconds to easily claim victory in the girls Under -20 200 metres. Myrie had mined silver in the 100 metres onSaturday. Meanwhile, another Western starlet,Lamara Distin, set a new lifetime best in copping the girls under-20 High Jump. Distin, a student at Vere Technical High and formerly of Rusea’s in Hanover, scaled a personal-best 1:85 metres to win the event on the final day of action. Jamaica also made a clean sweep of the sprint hurdles on the third and final day of competition, as well as the 200 metres events.
Jamaica’s 82-medal haul falls just four short of the historic and best-ever achieved 86 last year. It is also worth mentioning that on the final day of competition in this year’s staging of the event, Jamaica copped a whopping 33 medals on the final day to seal their 82-medal tally, and to ultimately maintain their stranglehold on the CARIFTA title. NL
Director of Sector Support Services at the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Nordia Seymour-Hall (fourth left), displays a symbolic cheque for $3.5 million, courtesy of the organizers of the annual MoBay City Run charity, at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Western Campus on March 6. Sharing in the moment are (from left): Acting Director, University of the West Indies, Western Jamaica Campus, Patrick Pendergast; Teacher at the Montego Bay Community College, Vinette Fearon-Hall; Coordinator at the University of Technology, Sophia McIntosh; and Executive Member of the MoBay City Run, Conroy Thompson.
Having awarded over $15 million to needy students over a four-year period, the MoBay City Run charity organization is being lauded for its philanthropic work by stakeholders in Western Jamaica.
The event, now in its fifth year, is slated for May 6 with a starting time of 6:00 a.m. at the Old Hospital Park, Gloucester Avenue, Montego Bay. It will see participants competing in 10k/5k races. All proceeds will go toward assisting students at the tertiary, high school and early childhood levels.
For Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) President, Omar Robinson, the MoBay City Run has not only evolved “beyond everyone’s wildest expectations,” it is now the kind of marquee event “that will attract tourists,” while “building student leaders of tomorrow.”
“The original intent was to provide assistance to students attending tertiary institutions within the region. So overwhelming was the response over the past four years that an early childhood component was introduced, and for the very first time, a high school will now be added to the list of recipients,” he says.
Mr. Robinson, whose JHTA organization will be donating $100,000 to the cause, notes that the hotel sector throughout the region has thrown its weight behind the event and will once again make up a significant number of the persons expected to participate.
For his part, Mayor of Montego Bay, Homer Davis, says the charity awarding more than $15 million over a four-year period is nothing to scoff at. He adds that the MoBay City Run is a classic example of what is right with the city and by extension Jamaica.
“What started out as a mere vision has evolved into something truly special and I have to ‘big up’ the organizers. We have seen and experience all the negative headlines and bad publicity here in Montego Bay over the past year or so. Now here is an event that has come to the fore and which is about to reshape our image in a very positive way. Not only is it a welcome boost for education, but there is also a tourism element as well as a health and wellness component,” the Mayor said.
In 2017, over 4,000 participants lined up for the event, with some very attractive sectional prizes given to the winners. Also, regardless of the category and order of finish, every single runner was given a medal for having participated.
ICONIC EVENT
For his part, newly appointed Minister of National Security and Member of Parliament for North Western St. James, Dr. Horace Chang, says the Mo Bay City Run is now one of those “iconic events that has taken on a life of its own.”
“This is an event which offers many great opportunities for our students, the parish of St. James and western Jamaica as well,” the Minister notes.
“The race’s main objective is to promote development in education by assisting our students to realize their dreams. I have personally watched the growth of the MoBay City Run, from its very first staging four years ago to now being one of the eagerly anticipated events on our local calendar here in the West. It is also a big plus for tourism and will certainly help to improve the product.”
Dr. Chang, in whose constituency the event is being staged, says the organizers must be commended for their vision, adding that “this race has succeeded in bringing all of Montego Bay together and has shown us what is possible when we use our collective minds for a greater good.”
In the meantime, Acting Director, University of the West Indies, Western Jamaica Campus, Patrick Prendergast, says he is extremely pleased that charitable organizations, such as the MoBay City Run, are seeing “both the vision and virtues” of investing in education.
“There is really no substitute for a good education and it is very encouraging to have organizations like these assisting students to realize their dreams,” he adds.
Gunmen continue to wreak havoc in Westmoreland, snuffing out the lives of two more persons.
In the latest incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 23-year-old Akeno Johnson of Red Ground, Negril, was shot and killed by unknown assailants.
Information released by the Negril police indicate that Johnson and his girlfriend were travelling on a motorcycle along the Red Ground main road at about 12:10 a.m. on Tuesday.
On reaching a section of the road, a silver motor car drove up beside them and the occupants, who were armed with guns, opened fire at them and the vehicle sped off.
Johnson, who received gunshot wounds to the upper body, was rushed to the Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
And, investigations are ongoing into the shooting death of Jermaine Godfrey, otherwise called ‘Blacks’, of Grange Hill.
He was shot and killed in his community on Thursday March 29. The Morgan’s Bridge Police report that about 12:10 p.m., Godfrey and a friend were walking in the community when they were pounced upon by two men armed with guns who opened fire at them.
Both men received gunshot wounds and were subsequently taken to the Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital, where Godfrey succumbed to his wounds.
The other man was treated and released.
A section of the Nurses Quadrant at the CRH where construction is on in earnest to complete renovation work to facilitate patients who are expected to be relocated from the main building which is affected by noxious fumes
The Ministry of Health is reportedly now scrambling to have all patients evacuated from the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay by the end of the week, as conditions at the problem-plagued health facility worsen.
Junior Doctors stayed off the job in protest on Tuesday, further crippling operations at the multi-disciplinary facility, where air quality issues and other conditions have been a major headache for the Ministry since last year.
Senior Doctors who were manning operations were said to be buckling under the pressure of the workload.
In an exclusive interview with a senior resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, it was revealed that a number of doctors have fallen ill due to exposure to fumes, while a Cuban doctor who fell ill opted to return home for treatment, but later died there.
According to our highly-placed source, the protest action was a direct call on the Ministry of Health to acknowledge that something is radically wrong at the hospital’s main building.
A massive multi-million dollar rehabilitation project, now underway at the hospital, is intended to relocate all patients from the facility, with work being done at the Nurses Quadrant, which already houses several departments of the hospital, including the seventh to tenth floors, ultrasound centre, and Matrons offices. The customer care and security headquarters are also being prepared to house a delivery suite and nursery.
Surgical patients are to be housed at a previously unused ward at Falmouth Hospital, which has been refurbished.
It is also understood that advanced preparations are being made to relocate the operating theatre and antenatal wards, which remain on the main building as the air quality situation worsens.
The ambitious plan by Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton to have rehabilitation of the hospital complete in November was shot down by the senior resident:
“That is simply not possible. There is too much work to be done to have all competed and ready in that short space of time. It would take a two-year span to have the hospital ready”.
A firefighter hangs his head in regret as he surveys the remains of the centenarian’s razed apartment
Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter
Owner suspects arson
A centenarian living in the comfort of the December of his years, had his ordered life disrupted on Thursday morning when a raging inferno gutted the 11-apartment house in which he lived at Chambers Drive, Granville Montego Bay leaving him, as well as three other persons, homeless. Estimate of the damage has been put at 9 million dollars.
The 102-year-old man escaped the blaze unhurt, but now has nowhere to live and is in need of clothes, as his belongings were all burnt in the fire.
The Montego Bay Fire Department reports that it received a call at 6:32 a.m. Thursday to a house fire at Chambers Drive, Granville.
Firefighters responded and on their arrival at the location, the fire was seen confined to an 11-apartment dwelling house and threatening other dwellings. Based on the scope of the fire, a request was made for assistance from the Ironshore Fire Station, which responded by sending another unit.
The fire was subsequently brought under control and extinguished.
Henry Osbourne, owner of the house who bemoans the loss of all his material possession, including money to pay taxes, says he is more concerned with the welfare of his 102-year-old father-in-law.
“I have to think about his welfare. He cannot move around like the rest of us. We are now sleeping at the home of friends, as we seek to rebuild our lives,” Mr. Osbourne related.
He further explained what he encountered on Thursday morning.
‘MR. OSBOURNE YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE’
“While coming over from the College (Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College) where I exercise every morning, I saw the smoke and somebody cry out and said ‘Mr. Osbourne your house is on fire’. So when I came over, the place was already engulfed and I tried with the hose but that just could not help. I lost everything. Look at me, all I have is the clothes that I exercise in.
He explained that his daughter, who was in the bathroom at the time of the fire, came out and heard someone shout ‘The house is on fire!’ and she immediately sprang into action, grabbing hold of the old man and her son, pulling them from the blazing house.
“She says it was difficult because the smoke was so thick and dense, but she managed to pull them both to safety.,”
Mr. Osbourne, who is a devout Seventh Day Adventist, says picking up the pieces won’t be easy.
“We lost everything. My daughter bakes and she lost all her baking equipment and everything. My faith in God remains unshaken so I know he will pull us through.”
Mr. Osbourne says he has a strong suspicion that it was a case of arson, but declined to comment further when quizzed as to what prompted his belief.
