The police last week seized two illegal firearms in a most unusual and bizarre way on the compound of the Falmouth Police Station in Trelawny.
The circumstances leading to the seizure are not only bizarre, but somewhat amusing.
Information gleaned by the Western Mirror indicate that last Friday, a taxi operator picked up two men in the town of Falmouth. The men sat on the back seat. Before taking the men to their destination, he drove onto the compound of the Falmouth Police Station with the intention of delivering a meal to someone in custody.
It was further revealed that the cab driver jokingly said to his passengers that if they had anything illegal to declare, they should do so now. Suddenly, he heard shuffling sounds coming from the back seat, he looked around and saw the two men jumping through the car window and running up the street.
The police, who were made aware of the happenings, searched the vehicle and found a Smith and Wesson pistol containing three 9mm cartridges and a Taurus pistol with six 9mm cartridges.
A search of the area was made but the men were not found.
The Supreme Preparatory School in Montego Bay is now reeling after thieves broke into the institution, last week Thursday night into Friday morning, making off with a number of valuable items.
The police, who were called in to investigate said the thieves gained entry by cutting the locks and grill to the backdoor. They subsequently removed items including two speaker boxes, amplifier, main computer to the office that contains important information, flash-drive, copier, printer, clothes iron, radio and two large boxes of food items.
According to principal Nella Perrier, ‘This is very bad. It’s quite stressful and is a great setback for the school, badly inconveniencing the daily operations, causing us to source assistance elsewhere,” she stressed.
She further stated that the security system was breached, which enabled the culprits to carry out their nefarious act.
Putting a dollar value to the incident, Mrs. Perrier noted that the stolen items, inclusive of replacements and repairs, cost in excess of one million dollars.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness (at podium) speaks to what he had seen of flooding in Montego Bay following intense rainfall in the city on Wednesday. He is flanked by (from left) Member of Parliament Heroy Clarke; Local Govermenet and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie; Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte and Mayor of Montego Bay, Homer Davis. CWP photo
PM to ask Cabinet for emergency funding
Clinton Pickering Freelance Writer
Confronted by the worst flooding disaster ever witnessed in Montego Bay, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is to ask Cabinet to approve emergency funding to restore serious losses to both the public and private sectors.
He said it was both an intense and unusual weather event, “but it is becoming the new norm. We have seen intense rainfall like this in April, in May, in June and we are now seeing it in October and November.” And, he pointed out, the forecast is for more rainfall going into the weekend when it probably will intensify.
Having toured Montego Bay on Wednesday with Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr. Horace Chang; Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett; Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte and a host of central and local government officials, Prime Minister Holness said: “The government will support, as much as we can, the recovery effort.”
He said he would be speaking with the Minister of Social Security “to ensure that persons who have been affected, who have lost property, especially owners, that there is some assistance provided. “I can’t say it will be a lot but we will assist.”
He commended the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) “for the incredible response that I have observed.” The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the “incredible resilience of spirit” displayed by the people of Montego Bay. “I haven’t seen one person with defeatist attitude,” he told a Press Conference in the Corporation’s Council Chamber.
Prime Minister Holness was assured that the city would be back to normal within another two days “providing there are no more phenomenal weather events to affect the people of Montego Bay.”
Minister McKenzie lamented that this week has not been good for Local Government with the parishes of St James, Portland and St Catherine experiencing severe flooding. “Coming here to St James and Montego Bay this morning, I was totally blown away.” But he said it was the responsibility of his ministry to work closely with StJMC to ensure that we return normality to the areas that have been affected.
EMERGENCY FUND
As an emergency measure, he said the ministry was allocating $10 million from an Equalization Fund to complement $10 million which he had already authorized Chairman of the StJMC and Mayor of Montego Bay, Homer Davis to draw down from an Emergency Fund.
Further, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Ministry of Labour and Social Security along with the St James Disaster Parish Coordinator “will move immediately to start to do the assessment of individuals who have sustained damage over the last 24 hours. The Jamaica Fire Brigade will be at the disposal of St James Municipal Corporation to assist in the washing down and doing what is necessary in regards to getting back sections of Montego Bay in operation.”
Minister McKenzie said he was happy that there was no report of loss of life “but there has been extensive damage that has been done to private and public property.” He said he would be back in Montego Bay next Tuesday for two days making an in-depth assessment of “and to see how best we can respond to this major crisis.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Davis said the corporation had activated its emergency system “and if it takes us 24, 36, 48 hours, my effort is to return Montego Bay to normal by Sunday of this week.”
Western Jamaica has been rocked by two double murders in a 24-hour spread, the latest occurring in Kinloss, Trelawny, with the shooting deaths of a child and a woman on Wednesday night.Seven other persons were also shot and wounded in both incidents.
The deceased have been identified as 8-year-old Javair-Kerr Lemon and 25-year-old Annakay Williams, both of Kinloss in Trelawny; Tusae McIntosh, otherwise called ‘Rae Rae’ and ‘Omar’, 37-year-old bus driver of Johnson Town and Shanoya Murray, otherwise called Jodie, 18-year-old student of Askenish, both in Hanover. In the Trelawny incident the Falmouth police, who are investigating, indicated that about 7:30p.m., six persons were at home when men armed with guns gained entry to the house and opened gunfire at them.
They received multiple injuries and were later assisted to the Falmouth Hospital where Kerr and Williams were pronounced dead, while the other four persons were treated.
Meanwhile, the police have taken three persons into custody whom they believe could assist them in their investigations. They are, however, appealing to anyone with information about the incident to contact the police.
In the other double murder which occurred in Dundee Pen, Hanover on Tuesday night, Murray and other persons were passengers in a Green Hiace bus being driven by McKenzie, who plies the Lucea to Askenish route. About 7p.m., upon reaching a section of the roadway, three men armed with guns opened fire on the vehicle.
Five persons were shot and wounded. McIntosh and Murray, who were among those hit, received multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
All five persons were taken to the Noel Holmes Hospital where Murray and McKenzie were pronounced dead, while the others were treated.
The Hanover police, who are yet to ascertain a motive for the killings, are appealing to the public to assist the police in their investigation.
UPSIDE DOWN: Torrential rains pummelled Montego Bay and its environs for more than four hours on Wednesday, dumping several inches of water on the western city, causing extensive flooding and damage to infrastructure. Business places, including banks and other enterprises, were not spared, as the raging flood waters flushed out the goods of one supermarket along William Streets onto the roadway, while lifting and washing away cars, old fridges etc. Here, the raging floodwaters lifted, overturned and stockpiled these cars atop each other at the popular Rubis Gas Station (formerly Ken Douglas) on St. James Street. A garbage skip that was located at Williams Street was also washed from its location, overturned and set down at the gas station by the flood waters.
(See more photos on Page 2) Barrington Flemming Photo
Carol Esson – News Editor
Flood waters like never before swept through downtown Montego Bay on Wednesday afternoon leaving in its wake flooded cars, businesses and homes and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
Some communities on the outskirt of the city such as Green Pond and Porto Bello were also severely impacted, particularly the road infrastructure.
The tourism sector was not spared as at least two hotels were invaded by flood waters. A video on social media shows tourists wading through inches of water.
Businesses on St. James Street, Union Street, Harbour Street, Baywest Shopping Centre and William Street, experienced the worst cases of flooding. Scores of cars were swept away with some ending up on each other.
The Rubis Gas Station on St. James Street, popularly called ‘Ken Douglas Gas Station’, took a battering after the North Gully overflowed its banks, converting the centre of the town into a virtual sea, with persons swimming and even using a boat in the waters. Flood water covered the pumps and several vehicles, which were swept away ended up on the compound of the station.
Also taking a beating was the Star Wholesale and Supermarket on William Street, with almost its entire inventory ending up on the streets. Several persons were captured rummaging through the items discarded by the flood waters.
Vehicles parked in the underground parking lots at Baywest Shopping Centre and Bisco Mall on Union Street were covered with water, some of them floating around like boats on the sea.
Over in the community of Green Pond, in the vicinity of Birch Hill, residents were left cleaning debris from their homes as the gully overflowed its banks. One home, almost in the path of the gully, suffered major damage as the water swept through taking in its wake the retaining wall and gate. The gully, once several feet deep, resembled a well laid out and compact roadway, ready to be asphalted.
The roadway was also significantly impacted with breakaways in several sections to include the main road leading to the populated community of Cornwall Court, which saw a number of homes in the scheme flooded.
There was significant damage to the roads in neighbouring Rosemount, as well as the King Street and Salt Spring main roads.
The Porto Bello/Irwin area on the outskirts of the city has been hit by land slippages and road damage. Porto Bello Drive is almost impassable with severe erosion of the roadway.
The business community in Montego Bay was plunged into mourning on Saturday morning when well-known operator of the Bogue Wholesale Monica Edwards died in a motor vehicle accident along the Unity Hall main road.
Reports are that Edwards, 72, of Unity Hall, died from injuries she sustained when the Nissan Sentra motorcar she was driving, was engaged in a collision with a tour bus along the Unity Hall main road.
Indications are that about 6:30 a.m., Edwards was driving towards Montego Bay en route to the Charles Gordon Market, with a bus and two cars travelling in the opposite direction.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that a bus travelling behind Mrs. Edwards’ car bumped into it, forcing it into the direct path of the oncoming bus, causing a head-on collision.
The bus, which reportedly bumped into the Sentra, tried to swerve away from hitting into it and fell into a nearby ditch.
As a result of the accident, six persons received multiple injuries and were assisted to the Cornwall Regional hospital for treatment.
Edwards was, however, trapped in the Sentra. Her lifeless body was later removed from the vehicle by a team from the Jamaica Fire Brigade using the “Jaws of Life” to pry her from the wreckage.
In the meantime, Montego Bay lost two more of its illustrious lights over the past few days with the death of Managing Director and proprietor of Discount Lumber and Hardware, Basil Johnson, who was said to be ailing for some time.
And, the Hemingay Preparatory family is also in mourning after its co-founder and owner, Nnbute Piggott, passed away on Monday night after a brief illness
With the police already at their wits’ end trying to curtail crime across St. James; they now have another raging crime beast to tackle in the least likely of places – the once peaceful, rural community of Cambridge, St. James.
In Mother Lane and McLeod Road Cambridge, gangsters yet again struck, mercilessly killing a mother, her daughter, and a teenager, all spanning three days.
The Police High Command, who divulged that they now have a strong presence in the area, revealed to the Western Mirror that they have already taken into custody a man for the killing of the teen, and are pursuing credible leads into the slaughtering of the mother and daughter.
Police say they also seized a firearm and several rounds of ammunition in connection with the killing of the teenager.
The women killed have been identified as 17-year-old Roxanne Daley of McLeod Road, Cambridge; 44-year-old Ann Marie Johnson, a Customer Service Representative and her 24-year-old daughter, Shantoy McKenzie, also a Customer Service Representative, both of Mother Lane in Cambridge.
The mother and daughter were killed on Saturday, while the teen was gunned down on Monday.
MOTHER/DAUGHTER SLAIN
Ann Marie Johnson (Mother)Shantoy McKenzie (Daughter)
The mother and daughter were allegedly killed on Saturday night, but their bodies were not discovered until ten hours after, early on Sunday morning, November, 19.
Information is that about 9.p.m., residents heard explosions in the area, but did not call the police.
The bodies of the two women were found about 7 on Sunday morning when a family member went to check on them after repeated calls to both went unanswered.
The family member found the lifeless bodies of both in their respective rooms with gunshot wounds.
The police were called and the bodies removed.
The teenager was killed in broad daylight on Monday as she walked towards her home.
The Western Mirror understand that about 10:30 a.m., residents heard gunfire and later found Daley suffering from gunshot wounds.
Police indicate that she was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Following the killing of the teenager, Police carried out an operation in the area resulting in the recovery of an illegal firearm and several rounds of ammunition.
Police have also arrested a man they said they believe is able to assist them in their investigation.
Gary McKenzie, Superintendent of Police in charge of Operations for St. James, told the Western Mirror that the police’s quick response and investigative work have left them with credible information which they are vigorously pursuing.
Striker Kevon Lewis of Green Pond, who was fed scraps on the frontline, battles with Frome Tech’s hardman Giovannie Mitto during second half action in the ISSA/Freshh Under-16 football game played at Green Pond. The visitors won the contest 1-0 on an early goal. Noelita Lawrence photo
Noelita Lawrence
Staff Reporter
Two games 24 hours apart seemingly took a toll as a sluggish-looking Green Pond suffered a rare defeat, going down 1-0 to Frome Technical in Friday’s opening round of games in the ISSA/Freshh Under-16 Football competition.
In a contest they hosted in muddy underfoot conditions, the Green-and-yellow-clad Gregory Daley-coached outfit conceded the vital goal of the encounter in the 17th minute through
The nippy Fabian Forbes eased his way between two defenders, getting on the end of a through ball before slotting in past an advancing Green Pond custodian.
Naheem Scarlet got the chance to increase the advantage three minutes later, but from inside the 6-yard box, he failed to take a shot and was forced out by the covering defender.
Frome Tech dominated the middle of the park and won every 50/50 ball as they held on to their narrow advantage to pull off the stunning upset win.
With the top two placing from Zone ‘A’ undecided, Green Pond were forced to play against St. James High on Thursday, a clash which ended sometime after 6 p.m., before returning to play again on Friday.
They suffered a 2-0 defeat in that match.
Green Pond must now win their remaining two games in the round if they are to advance to the quarter finals, having missed a slot in the semis last year by a slender point.
They are down to oppose Anchovy away beginning at 3:15 p.m.
In another game on Friday, a Keshaun Heath strike in the 32-minute steered Herbert Morrison Technical to a 1-0 win over Petersfield.
In other games down to be played involving western schools, Herbert Morrison are at home to Holland seeking back-to-back wins; Irwin opposing Petersfield and Frome Tech, seeking a second win, go up against Cedric Titus.
The final set of games are set for Friday, November 24.
Joint Commander of the Mt Salem Zone of Special Operations, Supt. Kirk Ricketts (left), gives an update on the Mount Salem Zone of Special Operation to the Lay Magistrates’ Association - St. James Chapter. Listening up front are (from left) Joe Hylton, LMA member; Custos of St James, Hon. Ewen Corrodus and LMA Chapter President, Claudette Bryan.
– CWP photo
Clinton Pickering
Freelance Writer
Up to mid-November, 10 firearms, manufactured overseas and locally, 62 rounds of ammunition and 75 offensive weapons, were seized in the Mount Salem Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO). Other items seized included lotto scamming paraphernalia.
Also, since January to November, the wider Mount Salem police area of some 15 communities, including the ZOSO, recorded some 84 murders and shootings. Of that number, 43 were murders, of which the police believe 26, or over 50 percent, “to be driven by gangs and gang activities.”
The figures were disclosed by Superintendent Kirk Ricketts in a presentation to the Lay Magistrates’ Association – St. James Chapter, at the Montego Bay Community College on Thursday, November 16, 2017.
Supt. Ricketts, who is Ground Commander for ZOSO, went on to give an update on operations in the Zone, noting that: “we have not had any shootings in the area since we have been there; we have not had one shot being fired.” The only incident involved two youngsters stabbing each other. “We have kept the zone free of violence since we have been there,” he reported.
But he underscored that other issues that make the community conducive to crime and violence still existed. “Every day I’m in the community and see high levels of unemployment and I find the community quite unique in the sense that it mistrusts the justice system and tends to want to deal with their own issues.” It therefore had a high level of unresolved domestic issues that result in stabbings or gun play.
In addition to the “mind boggling” number of unemployed youths, the community also has a high rate of school dropouts by youngsters in their mid-teens who turn to gang activity.
However, when contacted on Thursday, Superintendent Lindsay denied that the police and soldiers had left, but had only changed their mode of operations, based on the fact that the ZOSO was now moving into the social intervention segment of the programme.
“The police and the soldiers have not left; what has happened is that they have shifted into a different modality of operations but are still operating as a zone – if it becomes necessary then they will lock it down again to impose a curfew if necessary. Sometimes what they do is remove some of the check points and go for more patrolling – so they remove some of the restrictions and do adjustments from time to time,” Superintendent Lindsay explained.
Meanwhile, a closed-door meeting of the 24-member ZOSO Social Intervention Committee will be held this morning at 11 o’clock in Mt. Salem.
SOCIAL INTERVENTION
Omar Sweeney, Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) the agency charged with implementing the social intervention aspect of ZOSO, said the meeting will seek to finalize the timeline and the scope of these medium-term intervention strategies or those to be implemented over the next three to six months.
“We have taken an approach where community leadership is at the front of the process and so we have opened a communication channel there. So this is a process which I hope will be completed by the end of this month, which will be the first 30 days of the extension. After this, we should be in a position to begin the implementation,” Sweeney explained.
He said in interim, JSIF would continue its registration of young people in the community to have them enrolled in training programmes, and would, in conjunction with the National Work Agency, effect drain-cleaning programmes.
Mr. Sweeney said other infrastructure works are needed, as well as retaining walls to be constructed. “We have close to sixty persons on short term employment as we engage in the initial intervention aspect of the programme,” he disclosed.
Quizzed as to whether there was a budget for the infrastructure aspect of the ZOSO, Mr. Sweeney explained that each agency, including the Heart Trust and JSIF, would come to the programme with an established budget and would therefore tailor their budget by way of priority to suit the needs of the community and its residents.
Young Aviyanna's hair after using Ettenio's kids' hair products
ETTENIO, a manufacturer and marketer of an eco-luxury line of nourishing, prescriptive and therapeutic personal care and beauty products, last week introduced Montego Bay to its kiddies’ line, and those who were at the showing over in Fairview, were not left disappointed. The brand, which is designed for men, women and children and consists of a range of hair, skin and body care products of exquisite quality and efficacy, employs natural science to craft some of its now household name products. And with the introduction of this new line of products, the brand is only expected to soar even further.
Aviyanna’s hair before
Mothers across Jamaica have always looked for a way to ensure their children’s hair is healthy and Ettenio may just have plugged that need with these products.
According to Antoinette Davis, CEO of Ansel Development, the company that produces Ettenio: “Moms and Dads have been asking us for a solution to their children’s scalp conditions and damaged hair. They ask because they know our products work and are all natural, so we decided to launch a kids’ line to meet this demand.”
With names like, Free to Be Me, Dreamsicle and Curly Twirly, kids are going to now look forward to wash day!
Ettenio achieved numerous awards for its exceptional hair care line and will no doubt do the same for their kids’ line which carries a shampoo, conditioner, detangler, moisturizer, sealant, curl definer, and scalp balm.
Mrs. Davis promises that each product can be used for any type of hair. “We wanted to make it simple for parents, there is no guess work. Use them on boys or girls, locked hair, relaxed hair and natural.”
The products are now available in over 100 locations island-wide.
