Tuesday, April 29, 2025
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Four killed in St. James

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Audley Haughton

Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter

The parish of St. James continues to bleed with four men being killed by gunmen in separate incidents. A suspect has been taken into custody in relation to one of the killings.

The victims have been identified as 57-year-old Audley Haughton, construction worker of Westgate Hills, Montego Bay; 25-year-old Alrick Whyte, otherwise called ‘Rico’ of Springfield district; , 35-year-old Marvin Holness, farmer of Niagra and 37-year-old Kenroy Cox, otherwise called ‘Gregg’, truck driver of Hendon, Norwood all in the parish.

The Montego Hills police, who are investigating the latest of the murders which occurred on Monday night, indicate that about 8:45, Haughton was visiting his child’s mother in Hollywood, when he was pounced upon by unknown assailants armed with guns.

They proceeded to rob him of his cell phone, then opened gunfire, hitting him to the side of his chest, before making good their escape on foot in the area.

Haughton was assisted to the Cornwall Regional Hospital by the police, where he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Prior to Haughton’s death Monday night, homicide detectives were called to a murder scene at Retirement approximately 2:25p.m., when residents heard several explosions and alerted the lawmen.

The police, on their arrival at the scene, discovered Whyte lying on his back with gunshot wounds to the head and upper body with a motorcycle beside him.  He was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In the meantime, about 9 p.m. on Friday, Holness was among patrons at a bar in Niagra having alcoholic drinks when an argument developed between him and another man.

The argument got heated, during which it is alleged that the man brandished a firearm and opened fire hitting Holness to the upper body.

The police were summoned and on arrival, Holness was seen lying face down in a pool of blood suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper body. He was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, an altercation on Thursday between cousins led to the death of Cox, while his cousin has been arrested.

Reports are that about 10:50p.m., Cox and his cousin, who is said to be of unsound mind, was involved in an altercation when the cousin is alleged to have dashed into the house where he retrieved a knife which he used to inflict several stabbed wounds to Cox.

Cox was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead whilst the cousin was hours later taken into police custody.

COCOLAPALM – A Seaside Resort, Celebrates 25 Great Years

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Set among the swaying greenery is one of the 300-block cottages, which houses the junior rooms on the upstairs and the superior and deluxe rooms on the ground floor.

The management and staff of CocoLaPalm – a Seaside Resort, are cognizant of the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, but that has not deterred them from extending the same high-quality service to guests, which they have been doing for the past 25 years.


They are also offering special discounted rates to Jamaicans locally and those in the Diaspora who stay at the property.
The 107-room CocoLaPalm property, located along the swanky Norman Manley Boulevard in Negril, Westmoreland, is deemed the largest boutique resort in the parish. It is also purported to own the largest outdoor jacuzzi in that area.


Basking in the achievements of celebrating 25 years in the tourism industry, Managing Director, William Vassell, disclosed that they are proud of what they have achieved so far. “I started in 1995 with 19-rooms. Today, we have grown to having 107 rooms. It’s marvellous,” he remarked, while describing the journey. He explained that the hotel has undergone various points of development since coming into being – building rooms and expanding the restaurant and bar.


Chairman John Vosika, a US citizen, said it was one of the best decisions he made when he invested in the property, and by extension, the Jamaican tourism industry. “For years, I had been very impressed with the Jamaican tourism product, the warmth and friendly attitude of the people and the culture, so when the opportunity came to invest, it was a seamless decision for me,” Vosika said.


“I have a complement of some of the finest staff, a bunch of people that anyone in the industry would be proud to have on their team. I am also grateful to the many guests whom have chosen to vacation at CocoLaPalm over the past 25 years,” Vosika added.
Vosika singled out his General Manager William Vassell as a real trooper, who has evoked some of the most meticulous management strategies to keep operations going and staff employed. “Particularly of note was during the global economic crisis between 2008-2012, but most notably is during the current pandemic, which has impacted the travel and tourism industries globally.”


The CocoLaPalm Resort also features two swimming pools and shares the length of the famed Seven Mile Negril Beach. Utilizing a European Plan (EP) concept, the hotel is quite popular with visiting guests coming from across the globe, although the main market for its guests is the United States. Vassell said they have a lot of repeat guests, with a number of persons opting to stay in the same rooms as they come back year after year.


He notes that the hotel has withstood various challenges, to include the rise of the all-inclusive resorts. Now CocoLaPalm’s management is pushing towards an even brighter future. “I remember in 1997/98 when all these major resorts were coming in. I knew we had a good product and our staff represented our brand well and that made us successful, irrespective of our size,” he remarked.


This he attributes to the exemplary service that is and has been provided by the 111 staff members at the establishment over the years. Vassell said the high level of returning guests is a testament to the level of service and care they provide. However, due to the pandemic, they too have been experiencing the negative impact on their operations.


But in stark contrast, on January 25, the United Nations International Labour Organization (UNILO) reported that more than 225 million jobs were lost globally in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, but CocoLaPalm’s management opted instead to furlough their staff during the shutdown. And now with low occupancy at the resort, staff are being rotated.


Since the borders were re-opened mid last year, CocoLaPalm Resort’s management has been implementing various strategies to keep their doors open, in spite of the ongoing uncertainties globally. However, like everyone else, they too are concerned that perennial COVID-19 virus could spell a further devastating blow to the tourism industry in general.


Vassell notes that he is carefully watching what is happening in the international markets, especially with the recent announcements surrounding quarantining for travellers entering the United States and the potential fallout for the local industry. “We just hope that we can work something out because we cannot change their policy and we cannot dictate to them what to do, but we just hope that the best decision will be made in the interest of all and people will be able to travel safely,” he explained.
“Even though the pandemic is so vicious globally, we are hoping to breakthrough this. Despite the financial impact due to the downturn, the management is more concerned about our staff who are critical to the establishment. Our goal is to be here for another 25 years,” Vassell related.


However, despite the slowdown, Vassell is grateful with the business that they have been doing so far. He explained that they are presently averaging 30% occupancy, which includes a number of locals. He explained that they have enacted strict Covid-19 protocols among staff and guests in accordance with the rules and regulations implemented by the Health Ministry. He further remarked that so far everyone has embraced the programme, which may have contributed to the high number of locals that have visited the property in recent times.


Vassell is optimistic that the tourism industry will rebound and so too will CocoLaPalm- a Seaside Resort. He is now looking forward to what the next 25 years have to offer, indicating that they hope to make further improvements to the hotel for an even greater experience for all.

GUEST COMMENTS– 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

I have stayed at Coco 6 times NOW. It has always been a great experience. The staff is great , the food is good, they will always go out our their way to help in any way they can. Gibson always keeps us safe on the beach. The grounds are always clean and well kept. I would never think of staying anywhere else in Jamaica. I have made many good friends here and will be back next year. Coco did a great job with the COVID-19 testing. Thanks for everything. J. DeCourcy, USA

I remember 25 years ago when CocoLaPalm opened! Mr. Vassell helped my family come over from another property to CocoLaPalm 25 years ago. Since that day, CocoLaPalm has been my home for my family and even friends every year. My family has grown to know the staff and loved them as family. In all my travels, CocoLaPalm is a place where it felt safe, you felt like you were family and staff were genuine. Every return, my family were welcomed with a big smile and a huge hug. CocoLaPalm was where my youngest daughter got married on the beach, my oldest daughter had her wedding cocktail party and many family /friend gatherings under the Almond Tree.

It is truly a blessing to see that my daughters are now bringing their family to the same place. Coco La Palm is a true gem of a resort that is very clean, has beautiful foliage on the grounds, nice rooms and a great bunch of staff all around – E. Rookwood, USA

So many special moments in my life have been made at CocoLaPalm. I was married there in a very elegant ceremony. Our daughters took their first vacations there, and we have made lifelong friends with many other guests and staff we have met. The entertainment and dining options at Marley’s are consistently excellent. Most days we never leave the resort because we are so relaxed and pampered. Coco is our favorite home away from home!   Congratulations to CocoLaPalm on 25 years of doing it right! – R. LeTourneau, USA

Foiled abduction

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Daily Times photo

Commuters traveling by public transport in Montego Bay are being warned to be extra vigilant, after a report emerged that a teenage girl foiled what has been deemed an attempted abduction by a taxi operator on Saturday.

Reports are that a teenage girl and her friends went to the upscale Fairview Shopping Centre, Bogue, Montego Bay, to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

At the end of the celebration, the girls decided to take a taxi back to downtown Montego Bay, after a friend’s mother, who was scheduled to pick them up, failed to show.

Three of the girls boarded a taxi and the driver promptly attempted to give them masks and insisted that they put them on because “Corona de go roun”.

One of the girls, however, told him she had her own mask and did not need one. However, the taxi driver responded: “Unnu have dem on from morning, dem need fi change”. Her two friends took the masks and one attempted to put it on, when she grabbed the mask from her, suspecting that something was wrong with the masks. The girl who grabbed the mask from her friend said the mask felt damp.

In the meantime, two other women boarded the taxi and the driver gave them masks. One woman reportedly put on the mask and within a few seconds, the girls observed that her head dropped to the left and rested on the left window and she seemed totally lifeless.

The alert teenager, who did not accept the mask, pointed it out to her friends and the other woman, who sprang from the car, and frantically shook her friend in an attempt to revive her. When she did not respond, she pulled her from the vehicle and helped her into the nearby Fontana Pharmacy for assistance.

The girls rushed from the vehicle and the driver sped off without taking up any other passenger.

Meanwhile, the Montego Bay CIB says while it is aware of the incident, it is asking anyone with information on this matter to contact them at 684-9080 or to visit the office at St. James Police Divisional Headquarters at Freeport.

Footy whips up a delicious ‘Sip’

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FOOTY: Sip man Footy sells from his cart in Haddo Square, Westmoreland. Alan Lewin photo

Alan Lewin

For more than three decades, Markland Ricketts, popularly known as ‘Footy’, ‘Soupy’ or ‘Sippy’ has been tantalizing the tastebuds of motorists, entertainers and people travelling along the Haddo main road in Westmoreland with his now famous Sip.

The sip, he explains, is not soup, but a meatless dish comprising strictly vegetables, peanuts, peas, corn and ground provisions.

Ricketts, in the early years, started selling soup which was meat-based, but after having travelled in the 1990’s to work for a short time in the United States, he discovered that consuming too much meat was not good for a healthy lifestyle, so he converted his soup to a vegetable-based dish and hence it was renamed “Sip”.

He is located near the Haddo Primary School and has, on numerous occasions, lent a helping hand to students, either by giving them some sip or some money to pay their fares. On a daily basis, like a ritual, several motorists toot their horns in acknowledgement of his presence at that location.

Taxi operator Marlon Brown who has been a regular customer, had this to say about Footy’s Sip:

 ‘Whenever I’m passing, the Sip draws my appetite even if I don’t need a sip. The way how the Sip is so delicious and enjoyable, I have to stop and buy one. I also introduced the Sip to my family and friends, and they also stop sometimes to buy a sip.”

Brown is but one of many persons who share similar sentiments, with the others being local celebrities such as Luciano, Rygin King and Jamaica’s National Football Coach – Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore.

Ricketts, who is the father of five, all of whom he has schooled from his business, generally takes Sundays off to relax with his family.  He says, however, that none of the five children has expressed any interest in taking over the business, as they are all educated and wants to explore careers in their chosen fields.

When asked when he plans to retire from the sip business, he was quick to point outs that he had no plans on retiring any time soon, as it is the Lord ‘s wish to keep him and carry him through.

 “I have no plans on retiring, I’m in the best of health, so I’m making hay while the sun shines, and I have asked the Lord to bless and keep me for as long as possible.”

JSIF donates equipment to microenterprises in Anchovy

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Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Homer Davis (left), and Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney (right), display a cheque for $2.3 million to procure equipment for 11 microenterprises in Anchovy, in St. James, at a handover ceremony, held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, in Rose Hall, on Thursday, January 21.Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Homer Davis (left), and Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney (right), display a cheque for $2.3 million to procure equipment for 11 microenterprises in Anchovy, in St. James, at a handover ceremony, held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, in Rose Hall, on Thursday, January 21.

JSIF donates equipment to microenterprises in Anchovy

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has donated equipment, valued at $2.3 million, to boost the production and sustainability of 11 microenterprises in the community of Anchovy, St. James.

This has been made under the Enterprise Development Project that is being implemented by JSIF, under the second phase of the Government’s Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP).

The beneficiaries include farmers, welders, upholsterers, grocery shop operators, fashion designers, printery, restaurant operators and were a part of 115 enterprises selected from across the country to benefit from the project.

The handover ceremony was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James recently.

Addressing the recipients at the ceremony, Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Homer Davis, encouraged the entrepreneurs to be the engines of economic growth in Jamaica.

He also noted that the programme is a game changer that is helping to “change the financial standing of communities”.

“JSIF has gone in their coffers to find the resources to support small entrepreneurs with valuable assets to boost their businesses. For this, I offer heartfelt gratitude to JSIF,” Mr. Davis said.

For his part, Managing Director of JSIF, Omar Sweeney, indicated that a number of initiatives, to include some infrastructure plans, are to be implemented in Anchovy over time.

“We still have a number of interventions planned for the community as we continue on and the beneficiaries today are only be the start of what is to come,” Mr. Sweeney outlined.

“We believe that training and support you have gotten cannot only be a benefit to yourself, but to the community and for persons to come along in the future to benefit from what you have done. So, we share in your success and it has been an honour,” he added.

Recipient, Josh Gooden, said he is grateful for the embroidery machine that he received for his small business that he operates in Anchovy.

“I feel overwhelmed. This was an excellent opportunity that I wouldn’t want to miss and I am glad I am a recipient. This definitely has given me a stepping stone to go further with business,” he added.

Teen Allegedly Rapes 5-Year-Old Sister

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Barrington Flemmings – Staff Reporter

A 14-year-old boy is now in police custody for allegedly raping his 5-year-old sister.

The boy, of a Bethel Town address in Westmoreland, was taken into custody on Tuesday after his mother took him to the police station.

Reports are that on Wednesday, January 20, the mother left her five-year old daughter in the care of an adult relative. The boy reportedly came to the relative’s house and took the child into a room where he allegedly committed the act.

The child is said to have reported the matter to her mother, who later went and made a report to the police. The little girl was subsequently taken to the Savanna-la Mar Public General Hospital where she was medically examined.

The mother took the boy to the police on Tuesday, January 26, where he was arrested and charged after he was pointed out.

Superintendent of Police in charge of Westmoreland, Robert Gordon, said this is a case of incest which will go before the court, arguing that the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, CPFSA, generally takes an interest in such a case.

“What happens to the boy will be at the discretion of the court,” he informed.

Meanwhile, Dr. Beverley Scott, Executive Director of the Family and Parenting Centre, who is a Child and Family Therapist, says it is a most difficult time for the family, which is emotionally traumatized by this situation.

“The family is in need of counseling to assist them to restore emotional stability because they have been shaken; more than they need the law to deal with the matter, they need psychological intervention. They are traumatized, both for the daughter and for the son, for obvious reasons. However, the boy, at 14, should have been able to control himself,” she shared.  

Dr. Scott notes that both children are in delicate stages of their development; the boy experiencing strong sexual urges as he undergoes puberty and the girl experiencing sexual sensitivity, becoming aware of her body parts, especially her genitals, and both need to be guided. She says this does not mean that the daughter should be smothered but counselled and properly guided to recover well from this ordeal.

She is also recommending that the boy undergo psychological assessment and counselling and be placed in the Child Diversion programme (Child Diversion” is the exercise of implementing measures for dealing with children, alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law, without resorting to formal judicial proceedings). She says this should be employed as an alternative to full formal criminal procedures for the boy, to steer him in the right direction while the family recovers. 

Cllr. Thomas under fire from Waste Management boss

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Cllr. Kerry Thomas

St James Parish Councillor, Kerry Thomas, has earned the ire of Regional Operations Manager at WPM Waste Management, Garnet Edmondson, who is demanding an apology from Thomas for “false accusations”.

There’s a history of Thomas complaining about the service of the NSWMA in his Mount Salem Division and at last December’s council meeting, he made remarks which have not gone down well with Edmondson, triggering a tersely worded letter which was read on his behalf at last week’s meeting.

Thomas was absent from the meeting when the letter was being read, so it was not debated, but his colleague, Councillor Charles Sinclair, noted that it was a damning report, to which Councillor Michael Troupe cynically said, “Impeach him.”

Mr. Edmondson’s letter accused Cllr. Thomas of making several allegations at the December meeting “that are not true.” One such allegation was that the agency had reallocated garbage skips originally intended for the Mt Salem Division, but this has been flatly denied by Mr. Edmondson.

He has drawn the mayor’s attention to his letter, “because any further allegations made by Councillor Thomas would indicate that he is malicious and intends on tarnishing the reputation of this government agency and by extension the sitting administration.”

Mr. Edmondson said at no point were skips ever allocated to the division that were otherwise reallocated to other divisions. He said the dumpsites within the division have been there for many decades and what WPM Waste Management has done in order to improve the area is to place two metal skips there to be utilized by residents.

He also noted that cleaning the dumpsite on Vernon’s Drive required a backhoe because at times, up to three truckloads of solid waste is deposited there and to have these removed daily would incur a cost of $682,000 per week, taking into consideration that a backhoe generally costs $7,500 per hour and hiring a truck is approximately $20,000 per trip.

PARTNERSHIP

Mr. Edmondson said “at no point has Mr. Thomas ever written to WPM Waste Management Limited indicating the need for a meeting to discuss that dumping ground or any other that is plaguing his division.” And, “at no point during the last four years has Mr. Thomas indicated his need for partnership. On numerous occasions we have illustrated to the St James Municipal Corporation and the Public Health and Sanitation Committee, our support for stakeholder partnership. Such partnerships are evident in Cambridge, Farm Heights, Norwood and Salt Spring to name a few.”

The Solid Waste executive stated, “I, Garnet Edmondson, Regional Operations Manager of WPM Waste Management Limited, finds it disheartening and disingenuous for a sitting councillor to make such malicious accusations of sabotage on a government entity that provides such an invaluable service.”

He outlined that the agency has been doing daily cleaning/collection, improved sweeping with the number of sweepers the area increased from two to seven, community meetings where Mr. Thomas was invited and chose not to be a part of, consistent bulky waste and derelict vehicle removal and house to house sensitization with the use of flyers and town criers regarding proper solid waste management

Mr. Edmondson said meetings have been held with Mr. Thomas and other councilors who have responded to an invitation for partnership while Cllr. Thomas has not.

“We find it imperative that Councillor Thomas make a public apology for his false accusations. After which we would like to extend another invitation to him to meet with us so that we can formulate strategies which will aid in improving the aesthetics of the community and by extension the division,” said Mr. Edmondson.

Clinton Pickering – Freelance Writer

Bloody Weekend

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Dr. Chang, along with Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte in Quarry on Monday. KT photo

Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter

The parish of St. James is reeling from a rash of murders over a bloody weekend into Monday, which has left eight persons dead, including an elderly woman, and several persons nursing gunshot wounds.

The victims have been identified as Chad Trought, otherwise called ‘Kyle’ of New Roads, Cambridge; 43-year-old Sebastian Reid, tiler and taxi operator of Salt Spring; 29-year-old Shavion McPherson, otherwise called ‘Hussle Habit’ and ‘Dave’,  a music producer of Catadupa; 47-year-old barber, Dwight McCallum, otherwise called ‘Blue’ of Quarry; Estrianna Wilson, 77-year-old retired domestic helper of Quarry; 20-year-old Nicardo Daley; 47-year-old Donovan Reid, otherwise called ‘Dummy’, both of Norwood addresses and 50-year-old Aubrey Brown, otherwise called ‘Bram’, a plumber of Irie Lane, also in Norwood.

Trought, a member of the Cambridge United football team, became the latest murder victim after he was shot and killed by unknown assailants in the community on Monday night.

Reports from the Cambridge Police are that about 8:50 p.m., residents reportedly heard explosions and alerted them. On their arrival, Trought was seen lying on his side on his veranda in a pool of blood with gunshot wounds. The scene was processed and he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, a swathe of murders occurred about 6p.m. on Sunday in Quarry when McPherson and other men were playing football at the community field, and a party was in session at a nearby premises.

It is reported that a white Nissan Noah motorcar with four men aboard drove to the party location, alighted from the vehicle and opened gunfire at the persons in attendance, causing them to disperse in different directions.

McPherson and another man, who were at the playing field and heard the explosions, hurriedly boarded a white Toyota Voxy and were driving away from the field when the gunmen peppered the vehicle with shots.

When the shooting subsided, it was discovered that seven persons, including some persons at the party, had been shot and wounded.

The driver of the vehicle with McPherson, while injured, drove to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was treated for gunshot wounds, while McPherson succumbed to his injuries.

McCallum and Wilson, along with the other injured persons were subsequently transported to the hospital, where McCallum was pronounced dead while Wilson died whilst undergoing treatment.

Prior to that, on Saturday about 11a.m., Sebastian Reid was driving his motorcycle along the Salt Spring main road heading towards Meggie Top, when on reaching a section of the road, he was pounced upon by armed men who emerged from the bushes and opened fire at him, hitting him in the shoulder and buttock.

Reid sped off but later crashed nearby and was assisted to the police station, from where he was taken to hospital, where he died whilst undergoing treatment.

Further away at Irie Lane in the community of Norwood, crime sleuths were summoned to a homicide scene mere minutes into Saturday morning.

Reports from the Montego Hills Police are that about 12: 01 a.m., Brown was walking along the roadway when on reaching his gate he was pounced upon by armed men who opened fire hitting him; they also took his personal belongings.

The hoodlums then set ablaze a Toyota Altis motorcar that was nearby. The Police and the Fire Department were alerted. Upon their arrival, the fire was extinguished and Brown was seen lying on the roadway with gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

However, Brown’s death was preceded by a double murder committed at Hollywood in the community just hours before on Friday.

Reports are that about 8:00 p.m., Daley and Donavon Reid were among patrons at a bar when they were pounced upon by two men who opened gunfire hitting them. The Police were alerted and they were taken to hospital where Daley and Reid were pronounced dead, and the woman was admitted for treatment; she is considered stable.

The murders prompted a visit to both communities on Monday from National Security Minister, Dr. Horace Chang, who is also the Member of Parliament for North West St. James.

In condemning the attacks, Minister Chang said the killings will have to stop and vowed to use all the resources available to the government to bring the perpetrators to justice and to dismantle gangs and apprehend gangsters who are murdering innocent persons.

Major gun bust

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The St. James police on Monday made a major dent in the operations of the criminal underworld following an operation carried out at the Cargo wharf in Freeport Montego Bay, which netted a large cache of guns and ammunition.

During the operation, a barrel was checked and found to contain the illegal firearms and ammunition.

 A total of nineteen firearms and more than 400 assorted rounds of ammunition were recovered to include 13 handguns, 6 high powered rifles and 39 magazines.

Some of the bullets found

The barrel is said to have a Western Jamaica address, and arrived in the island recently from Florida in the USA.

There is now a major multi-agency investigation underway as the Police seek to identify the persons responsible.

According to head of the St. James Police Division, Superintendent Vernon Ellis, last year the St. James Division recovered 116 illegal firearms and 1,378 rounds of ammunition, which was the highest recovery made by any division.

Some of the guns found

Superintendent Ellis said the police in St. James were busy disarming gangsters and managed to remove some high-tech weapons from several gangs across the division.

The St. James police head, in expressing thanks, said the success achieved was only made possible through the partnership, trust and confidence that the citizens have in the police.

Christopher Stone

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Christopher Stone

Noelita Lawrence-Ricketts

He was just getting to know his mother when she was violently snatched from his life more than a decade ago, but young Christopher Everton Anthony Stone has managed to keep himself motivated, out of trouble and is now one of Montego Bay’s most tenacious and versatile football players.

Standing just above the ground, the diminutive Stone, nicknamed ‘Jackie Chan’ and ‘Romario’, was born on July 22, 1996 to mother Bernadette Mairs, more popularly known as ‘Lorraine’ (deceased)  in the lively and never-sleeping community of Mount Salem.

Now 24 years old, Stone says he has only one sibling and is the first for his father but the only one for his late mother.

‘Jackie Chan’ who is a past student of prominent high school Rusea’s in Hanover, also spent time at St. James High and told the Western Mirror that from an early age, around 13, he had harboured thoughts of becoming an American soldier, a position he would use to safeguard his family. He says though time has seemingly ran out, he remains committed as it’s an aspiration he still thinks he can achieve.

He told this entity, “I passed my primary exams from Mount Salem Primary and Junior High for Rusea’s and spent 4 years there, Grades 7-10, before personal reasons forced me to switch, completing a year at St. James High.”

He has been around the sport of football since he was a boy, and he says though not here to physically guide him, his mother (Lorraine) remains a big influence on him playing the sport. “In all that I do, it’s like I always remember that my mother was said to be a very talented, revered and accomplished player and I always wanted to follow in her footsteps,” he noted.

He was a part of the history-achieving Hopewell team which went to the semi-finals of the Western CONFED two seasons ago, but is now on the books of Faulkland, where he’s into his second stint. He has also represented ABES, Youth in Action and once had a spell with Portmore United in the local Premier League.

An extremely versatile player who is soft-spoken and speaks with a stutter, he is capable of efficiently operating at right back, left back, forward and even as an attacking midfielder, a position he says he really expands in when he gets the chance to play there.

‘Jackie chan’ CLOSE-UP:

Ques: What is your favourite colour?

Ans: I have two actually – Red and Blue

Ques:  What’s your favourite meal to have?

Ans: Curried conch with rice and peas

Ques: Who would you say motivates you?

Ans: My motivator, I would have to say, is Theodore Whitmore (Tappa). All my life he has been encouraging me, helping to push me along. He grew up with my mother. They were good friends and he has always maintained contact with me.

Ques: Name your favourite movie.

Ans: Triple Frontier

Ques: Do you have a best friend?

Ans: Yes, his name is Tajmar Jones. We have known each other for a long time. We are from and grew up in the same community (Mount Salem)

Ques: How tall are you?

Ans: 5’4”

Ques: What’s your favourite quote?

Ans: ‘You only live once but if you do it right, once is enough.’

Ques: Which local team is your favourite?

Ans: Portmore United. I love their never-say-die attitude, as well as their professionalism

Ques: Who is your favourite English Premier League player?

Ans: Sadio Mane of Liverpool, but shockingly, I’m a Chelsea supporter

Ques: Which team do you support during the World Cup?

Ans:  Brazil

Ques: Do you play any other sport than football?
Ans: No. I am strictly a football person

Ques: Who’s your favorite player to talk sports with?

Ans: Teammate Michael McLeod

Ques: Name your favourite local official

Ans: He’s long retired, but that would have to be Steve Bucknor, former International ICC Cricket Umpire and referee  

Ques: What would say has been your most memorable moment in football to date?

Ans: Faulkland versus former National Premier League contender and champions, Montego Bay United. It stands out to me because it was such a competitive affair. I don’t remember having played so hard and having to concentrate in all my playing time. All players truly had to be at their best for the showdown which went right down to the final whistle

Ques: What are the most-used apps on your phone?

Ans: WhatsApp and Instagram

Ques: Where’s your preferred venue to play?

Ans: That would have to be Jarrett Park. It’s a legacy field. Most of the country’s best started out playing there, plus the atmosphere is always one that leaves a good feeling with you

Ques: To date, which coach has influenced your playing style?

Ans: Seba Wong, Gregory Palmer and Kenneth Watson (Treadwhite)

Stone says the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus is crippling on him in every way possible. “Financially, I’m not able to do certain things as football was my way of earning primarily and personally, it has left a toll on me, not being able to go out as often as I usually do to play and compete for honours in the sport I truly love. This pandemic has just left me sitting with nothing to do.”

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