The Flanker main road in St. James was the scene of the second road fatality in the parish since the start of the year, which claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy from the neighbouring Providence Heights community.
The dead youngster has been identified as Dwayne Gosling, affectionately called ‘Dada’.
Reports from the Coral Gardens police are that about 7:17 p. m. on Tuesday, Gosling was attempting to cross the Flanker main road in the vicinity of the Burke Barracks when he was hit by a red Honda Stream Station Wagon being driven by a man.
Gosling sustained injuries to the head and body and was subsequently rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the Honda Stream was warned for prosecution and released pending further investigation.
Meanwhile, earlier on New Year’s Day, the first motor vehicle fatality was recorded when 23-year-old spray man, Bunny Elliot, of Crawford Street, Mt. Salem, died in a motor vehicle collision along the Sign Irwin main road.
Reports from the Mt. Salem police are that about 1:30 p.m., Elliot was riding his motorcycle along the Sign Irwin main road, when it is alleged that the motor bike and a Toyota Voxy motor car collided.
Elliot was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained multiple injuries. He was taken to Cornwall Regional Hospital where he died whilst being treated.
The driver of the Toyota Voxy has been taken into police custody pending further investigations.
Residents, armed with placards, demonstrate in the vicinity of an ongoing development in Greenwood that has blocked a drain leading out of the community. - Shamir Brown photo
Shamir Brown
Mounting tension in the Greenwood community over a blocked drain seem headed for a heated showdown in court, as the Greenwood Citizens’ Association, supported by Councillor for the Rose Hall Division, Anthony Murray, is adamant that property owner, Robert Stephens, has disregarded the law in carrying out his building projects, which are reportedly severely affecting sections of the community.
The drain in question was listed as a particularly important one, according to President of the Citizens’ Association, Madge Neil-Burnett, who also expressed that the situation is an untenable one which is seriously inconveniencing residents. “This is an important drain that leads excess water out of the community to the sea, which is now being blocked due to ongoing work. We cannot accept that because when we have rainfall, the water backs up and people cannot get into their homes,” Neil-Burnett said.
Roadways such as this one are now a common feature in the community, allegedly as a result of the blocked drain.
The sentiments expressed by President Neil-Burnett were further echoed on Wednesday when residents, armed with placards, led a peaceful protest which took place on a section of the North Coast Highway, ending at the gates of the St. James Municipal Corporation, demanding urgent attention to the issue. The residents contend that if matters surrounding the drain are not dealt with swiftly, the existing problems could worsen.
Businessmen Antony Rogers, who operates a car sales business in the area, and Trevor Burnett Jr., of the Greenwood Plaza, both expressed that their businesses have suffered as a result. “I’ve been really impacted by the dumping and the blockage of the drain, because when it rains, I can’t get into my property,” shared Rogers, who added that his clients are affected by this as well. For Burnett Jr., activities in the Tile Gallery department of the Greenwood Plaza have been severely impeded, as customers find it difficult to access the showroom. “The drain is blocked and the landowner has decided that he’s untouchable and above the law, and we would like to have the situation addressed,” Burnett said.
FIGHTING WORDS
Property owner Robert Stephens, when contacted, however, related that things are being blown way out of context, and he is surprised at the actions being taken, to include comments from Councillor for the Rose Hall Division, Anthony Murray. According to Murray, “Based on consultations, the matter will be going to the courts to ensure that the proper remedy is done. I think the persons who are doing it have no regard for the authorities and agencies, and so this action is necessary.” As well as denying that he has been in receipt of the mentioned notices, Stephens believes that the actions being taken against him stem from a grudge for him by another business person.
“Before starting the work, I met with the residents of the community and indicated my plans, so they were well aware,” Stephens explained. When the matter of the drain was brought up, according to Stephens, a section of the land was offered to the residents to work to build a culvert, but the offer was not taken up. He also mentioned that the drain in question was dug through his property illegally.
Stephens also disclosed that the protest did not reflect the true feelings of the Greenwood residents. He believes that it all being orchestrated by one person, who is upset about how the water is channeled, that person, Stephens added, was also responsible for diverting water onto his property. Despite those issues, Stephens revealed that he is trying to build a culvert to try and assist with the situation. “I am trying to channel the water through a new culvert that I am building, but they don’t want that. They want me to dig back through my land, to sacrifice my land and dig a canal through it,” he remarked.
Stephens insists that what he is doing is within the boundaries of the law, and he challenges anyone to prove otherwise.
Flashing round town on his speedy Kawasaki ZX10 motorcycle (Black Beast), he is an intellectual basketball player, fantastic father of two and a mentor to several, who inspires and delights many when he takes to the court. He was born Rayon Gardiner, and is popularly known as ‘Muscle’, ‘Jimmy Son’ and ‘Watch Rasta’.
Gardiner, who holds a Bachelor in International Business, came into this world on June 14, 1980, and is a born and bred Montegonian, son of popular and longstanding businessman Jimmy, owner and operator of Jimmy’s Bakery, and mother Bev from Mount Salem.
Gardiner divulged to the Western Mirror during his sit-down that he’s a very jovial person, but only when in the company of his friends.
He is father to an 11-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son and the usually soft-spoken Gardiner, who can often be seen in very casual wears (shorts and crocs), almost every day of the week, says being a dad is one of the best feeling in the world.
Gardiner hails from a very large family, revealing to the Western Mirror that he has about nine siblings by his father’s side, and notes he’s the sixth for him, while being an only child for his beloved mother.
He started his primary education at the much-sought-after Corinaldi, before leaving for Knox High in Clarendon, where he spent 6 years before returning to Montego Bay, where he enrolled at the Montego Bay Community College and later migrated to the United States where he attended Delaware State University to attain his bachelor.
Said to be one who loves to travel, a smiling ‘Muscle’ revealed his time at Knox, in another parish, was a calculated move by his parents who, at the time, thought boarding school was his only outlet because he was “giving trouble”.
A lethal point guard and a destructive three pointer on his day, the standout basketball player in the Western end of the island, Gardiner, has played for several clubs – namely Glendevon Snipers, Montego Bay Hoopers and the Montego Bay Cricket Club Knights, where he has been a fixture for the past 2 years.
Gardiner, who says he has been in and around the sport now for some 24 years, said he introduced himself to the sport. “It was D’Cup’s off season and there was nothing else to do for an athletic individual so I just took to the sport and quickly warmed to it.”
In his candid one-on-one with this news entity, Gardiner, quizzed if he had ever thought of pursuing any other profession than that of a businessman, notes that being born to entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship came naturally for him. So, from an early age, he aspired to become just as successful, if not more, than his parents. “I’m all about the business at hand,” he stated.
MUSCLE UP-CLOSE:
Ques: Who would you say is your motivator?
Ans: My father is my motivator and hero. His story is from a poor and humble background. His journey, his achievements are incredible. The things he has seen and the different eras he’s lived through since 1938 and still going. It’s just a real story and I strive to live by his goals and teachings.
Ques: Do you have a best friend?
Ans: Fitzroy Goldson (Flour), Rayon Grey (Chico), Penny Ripton, Blackella, Ven and Macki
Ques: How tall are you?
Ans: 6’ 4”
Ques: What’s your favourite quote?
Ans: ‘Honour your mother and father and your days will be long’.
Ques: Which team do you support in the NBA
Ans: None
Ques: Do you have any player you admire?
Ans: I’m old school, so Michael Jordan. If you’re asking about currently and still in the game, then it’s going to be LeBron James
Ques: Do you watch any other sport than Basketball?
Ans: NFL and my team to support is LA Rams. It’s the only other sport I would play too if I were younger.
Ques: Who is your player to talk sports with?
Ans: Ryan Grey (Chico). I like to talk to people who intellectually understand the game, and he’s one of those persons
Ques: Should a game be on the line, name a few players you would like to be on the court with?
Ans: Chico, for his understanding and proper decision-making with the ball; Dave Black, known for making game-winning shots, Antonio Spence, and Jhaun Bryan down in the paint.
Ques: Do you have a favourite local official?
Ans: Yes, yes, how can you not like Miss Suzette Virgo? She has an all-round knowledge of the game and is one that often times makes the right calls without fear or bias.
Ques: What has been your most memorable match to date?
Ans: That’s tough since I’ve been playing the sport for so long (over two decades), but I guess I would have to say the Knights championships beating of the favourite Falmouth Saints in the finals.
Ques: What’s the most-used app on your phone?
Ans: WhatsApp Messenger
Ques: What’s your favourite venue to play?
Ans: The only good court we have in Montego Bay – Cricket Club
Ques: What’s your favourite food?
Ans: Lobster at Carbonara (houseboat)
Ques: Do you have a favourite colour?
Ans: Yes, anything black
Ques: What’s your all-time favourite movie?
Ans: Friday with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker
Ques: Is there a favourite book ever read?
Ans: LOL!! My Bank Book
Like millions worldwide, Gardiner says the Coronavirus has put a strain on his daily activities. “Personally, I’ve traveled a lot and I love to travel. Places like Rome, Paris, Milan and Mexico, to name a few, are places I’ve been and with COVID’s main rule of ‘tan a yard’, everything, including sports and Basketball, is just on a pause. I miss the opportunity of playing pick-up games or Leagues to vie for, so it’s just a pause for everything. It’s hard to deal with but it leaves or opens room for several other stuff that you wouldn’t normally find time for, namely family and being at home; spending more time with loved ones.”
In also taking a swipe, Gardiner is calling on the business community to make a commitment to the sports in the West and Montego Bay in particular as the game (Basketball) is important to the young, upcoming players and it’s also a venue for at-risk youth to channel their energies.
The Trelawny Police Division is reporting a major reduction in crimes for the year just ended, attributing this to the successful implementation of varying strategies throughout the year.
Kirk Ricketts, Superintendent of Police in charge of the Trelawny Division, related that for last year, there was a 28% reduction in all major crimes across the parish with a notable slash in murders moving from 30 the year before to 21 last year.
Superintendent Ricketts also pointed to the continued partnership between the police and the residents, which he said was a contributing factor to the reduction in violence and criminal activities in the parish.
“In the midst of a pandemic, everyone put out a hundred percent. We’ve had our issues but nevertheless, we were able to finish the year with a significant reduction in major crimes, thanks also to residents and citizens who cooperated us with us,” he remarked. “Trelawny is known for that, cooperating with the police, so it’s a mixture,” he said. “Overall, we think we did a pretty good job and hopefully we can do better this year,” he noted.
He, however, indicated that the police would have renewed focus on two particular categories of crime, rape and aggravated assault.
“We had some increase as it relates to rapes and aggravated assaults, so we want to focus on violence against the persons, whether it be murders, rape, aggravated assaults, we want to look at what the root causes are for these types of violent incidents,” he said.
The Trelawny police chief said based on statistics, which revealed that at least 60 percent of the murders committed in the parish resulted from domestic disputes, the police would be utilizing dispute resolution as a means of quelling these active situations before they escalate into more explosive scenes.
He also noted that the police would be calling on other stakeholders to assist in this effort, such as the Ministers’ Fraternal, should they deem it necessary.
The community of New Market Oval commonly called ‘Desta’ in Westmoreland, remains on edge today following the controversial shooting death of 14-year-old Yuhimbe Brydson minutes into the New Year by members of a joint police military team. Brydson’s 15-year-old cousin was also shot and wounded in the early Friday morning incident.
Brydson is a Grade Nine student of the Petersfield High School and is of a Ricketts Street address in the parish.
The Savanna-la-Mar police report that minutes after midnight several explosions sounding like gunshots were heard in the Desta area and a team of police and soldiers responded.
The police say upon their approach, they were fired upon and they returned the fire. Brydson, who was in the area, was later discovered with gunshot wounds and transported to the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The matter has been reported to the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB) and the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), which have also launched probes into the incident.
However, residents of Desta are disputing the police’s report as false and are demanding justice. A bonfire was lit in the middle of the road on Saturday by some residents who cited their anger at the security forces and claimed that Brydson was a not a trouble-maker and was not involved in wrongdoing.
Byrdson’s elder brother, Nayo Brydson, says he will go to the full extent to ensure that the family receives justice for the killing of his younger brother and his mother’s last child.
BROTHER’S ACCOUNT
“Why all the time they use the same alibi eeh? Nobody shot at them. A new year and people a celebrate suh gunshot fire but a nu nobody yah suh. The people were here gathering and joining hands, glad fi see the New Year and was about fi pray. It is a usual thing every year, when dem look and see this group a man a come up the road, at first dem tink an gunman suh dem start go back innna dem yard but dem realize say a police an soldier suh dem come back out. So as soon as dem come back out, some soldier come roun’ and unleash one barrage a gunshot in an innocent crowd and dem shoot Yuhimbe and his cousin, a 15-year-old yute.”
Residents of Desta lit this bonfire in protest of the killing of 14-year-old Yuhimbe Brydson by the security forces on New Year’s Day. – Barrington Flemming Photo
Brydson’s mother, Bishop Cheryl Campbell of the Sacred Heart Spiritual Church of Jesus Christ International, who spoke through tears, says she wants justice for her last child who would be home by 7 o’clock every night and was not involved in any criminal activities.
“All mi want is to see him a come through the gate and every time mi a look out deh so a him mi a look fah. Mi waan fi see him a come. Every night we sleep together in the same bed. Mi woulda call him to come home but because of the New Year and the fact that he was somewhere close to home, I gave him some leeway. He was not a bad child.”
Bishop Kevaughn Reid, also from the Sacred Heart Church, says the members are feeling it because he was an active part of the Sunday school. “He grew up in the church so he is like our child also.”
Principal of Petersfield High Roan Green says the school community is in deep sorrow as teachers and classmates are still smarting from the untimely death of Brydson who was doing well in class and played for the school’s under 14 football team.
A gunman was shot and killed by an off-duty policeman in a foiled robbery attempt and a firearm seized along the Sunvalley main road in Glendevon on Friday.
The dead man has been identified as Marvan Bowman, otherwise called ‘Chin Mix’ of Bottom Pen, Glendevon, Montego Bay, St. James.
The Montego Hills Police, who are investigating, report that about 8:45 p.m. on Friday, an off-duty police officer was among passengers travelling in a taxi which plies the Downtown Montego Bay to Sunvalley route, when on reaching a section of Sunvalley Road, the car ran out of petrol.
The driver is alleged to have apologized to the passengers, grabbed a gallon jug and went to the nearby gas station to purchase petrol.
It is alleged that Bowman and another man, who were lurking in nearby bushes, pounced upon the passengers and demanded money.
The policeman, who was armed, reportedly opened fire at the men. Both men ran, however, it was reported that Bowman, who was hit, fell clutching what was subsequently reported to be a Dessert Eagle pistol with five .50 cartridges.
The firearm was retrieved and Bowman was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Independent Commission of Investigation, INDECOM, has since launched an investigation into the incident.
Thirty-six-year-old electrician, Everett Duncan of Greenwich Park, St. Ann, has been charged with murder after he reportedly confessed to the killing of 38-year-old plumber Patrick Spence, otherwise called ‘Andy’ of Bounty Hall, Trelawny.
Spence was reported missing on Friday after numerous attempts by his relatives to contact him failed.
He was last seen on CCTV entering a friend’s car on Thursday, October 8, at a supermarket in Falmouth after parking his own vehicle.
Spence was later found dead along a dirt track in Runaway Bay, St. Ann, with several stab wounds to the body and the throat slashed.
The Runaway Bay Police were alerted and launched an investigation. Duncan, who was subsequently caught, reportedly confessed to the murder.
He was charged with murder on Sunday and is now awaiting a court day.
AFTER THE FLOOD: Workmen were busy up to yesterday cleaning up at Riu Reggae after flood waters raged through the lobby and ground floor rooms on Monday afternoon. The water marks on the cars parked in the background indicate how high the water reached. The clean-up crew worked feverishly to clear the sea of mud which was deposited in front of the hotel. – CWP photo
Clinton Pickering – Freelance Writer
Three years in succession, the Riu Reggae hotel at Rose Hall in Montego Bay has been impacted negatively by flooding in the wake of heavy showers. The flooding is caused by a build-up of debris in a drain that runs from the Flower Hill/Salt Spring hills with heavy rainfall, such as Monday afternoon’s sudden downpour.
Riu Hotels Regional Director, Frank Sondern, says “There’s some serious work to be done on the drainage (as) any water that falls into it you have sand and stone, debris and marl, everything comes down.” The drain runs under a bridge by the hotel and Mr. Sondern pointed out that because the hole was very narrow, it always backs up.
About this time in 2018, again in 2019 and now this year, Riu Reggae has had to deal with floodwaters. This time round, the lobby and ground floor rooms were flooded, resulting in the relocation of some guests. On Monday, operations were disrupted for hours in the first instance. Dinner was delayed as cleaning got underway and there was a brief power outage. “For about three hours it affected the operations but after 7:00, we had already opened the bar and at 8:00 o’clock we had the show area ready,” said Sondern.
At the time of the unexpected deluge, there were about 305 guests in-house at the hotel. More than 100 had checked out earlier so as not to be caught in the 3 p.m. curfew hour that was in force.
Staff from Ocho Rios and Negril have joined the Riu Reggae work crew in the clean-up which continued into yesterday.
Acting on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Horace Chang, Senator Charles Sinclair led a team of officials, including Mayor Leeroy Williams, to the flooded scene yesterday morning. He told Sondern, “We have to show our commitment to you as an industry player in the tourism sector and we do appreciate the challenging times that we’re in.”
While awaiting the arrival of a technical team from the National Works Agency, Sinclair addressed remarks to the wider public “because regarding the situation in the drain that we examined, where the problem arose, I saw a lot of plastic and plastic bottles which speaks to the illegal depositing of waste in areas that can cause them to get into the channels.”
Tree cuttings also contributed to the clogging of the waterway “and what that speaks to, when you consider where the drain is coming from; all the way up in the Flower Hill/Salt Spring area, is that we may be having persons who are just cutting the lumber for farming purposes, for coal and so forth and they get into the waterway and contribute to the clogging.”
Sinclair said especially in this time of climate change, serious consideration had to be given to how mankind operates, bearing in mind the country is having more and heavier rainfall and with the earth being saturated, there is quicker run-off.
Mayor Williams said solving the flooding problem “definitely has to be a public-private sector partnership because we cannot afford to have a recurrence of this.” For its part, the St James Municipal Corporation councillors have been directed to pay attention to cleaning drains in their divisions.
Murders were seemingly the main feature of the vaunted Heroes’ Weekend in St. James where four men were shot and killed by unknown assailants, despite the imposition of a 3 p.m. curfew, pushing the murder tally in the parish closer to the 100 mark.
The dead men have been identified as: 44 -year old Aldin Cameron, otherwise called ‘Charlie Boo’ of Providence Heights; 25-year-old Jaheem Grant of Barrett Town, 45-year-old Leonardo Murray and Melaki ‘Bobo’ Walters of Hendon, Norwood.
Aldin Cameron O/C Charlie Boo
In the latest homicide, which occurred on Sunday about 12:30 p.m., reports say a group of armed men alighted from a motor vehicle and chased Walters through the streets of Montego Bay, before he was eventually shot along Strand Street.
He was later pronounced dead at hospital.
Meanwhile, gunmen also snuffed out the life of Murray on Sunday in the Barrett Town area.
Earlier on Saturday, gunmen claimed the lives of the other two men.
Reports are that about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Cameron was standing along Hart Street when several explosions, were heard.
Checks were made by residents who discovered that he had received multiple gunshot wounds to the body. He was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital by residents where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A longstanding female friend of Cameron, who was a strong advocate of the People’s National Party, and who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was painful to lose him.
“Charlie Boo was a sweet, jovial person, a genuine kind friend to me. A very nice person. He was a staunch supporter of the People’s National Party, PNP, and was always peddling shoes, clothes and other stuff. I don’t know why they kill my nice, clean and good, good friend. It hurts really bad. I can’t manage this at all.”
Another friend who resides overseas made a post on social media which read:
“Tell me now who go take me around when me come a Jamaica? God know general, dis nuh good at all. Why dem deal wid you suh? It nuh right,” the friend said.
Given a cricketer’s name at birth, but possessing no love for that sport, robust, vociferous, tough-talking and no-nonsense are just some of the words often used to describe the talented footballer, given name Chevoy Chanderpaul Watkin.
Watkin, popularly called ‘Seba Man’, remembers starting out in football at the tender age of 6. The rough-tackling defender, who reads the game extremely well, was born on November 11, 1995 in the lower class district of Retirement, Granville in St. James, to parents Ivett Evans and Erris Watkin.
A simple person off the field, full of laughter and well-known, Watkin holds a burning desire and has his eyes set on one day becoming a professional footballer. Now a resident in Camrose district, few metres from where he was born and raised, Watkin told the Western Mirror he has five siblings, revealing he is the fourth in line (second to last).
The player, who now plys his trade with Falmouth United in the Western CONFED, started out his playing days with Abbes United before making his big break with Faulkland, where he harnessed his skills under the watch of Kenneth Watson and Gregory Palmer.
Having a burning desire to one day represent the National team, Watkin, who represented St. James High in the schoolboy football competition, da’Costa Cup, started his education at Buckingham All Age, before moving to Granville All Age where he sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).
Watkin, in his sit down with the Western Mirror, says the ongoing COVID-19, which has crippled sports and hampered lives in so many ways, has caused him great distress and leaves him missing out on his continued growth in game he loves.
“I’ve not been able to earn since the pandemic, as football was my primary means of earning. It has also left me not being able to play as often as I would like or as often as I would have liked and that has been really frustrating.” He also thinks his Falmouth team was on firm course to win the CONFED, but was robbed because of the cancellation of the League.
WATKIN’S CLOSE-UP:
Ques: What is your preferred mode of dress?
Ans: Just being simple, slippers and jeans
Ques: What kind of music do you listen to?
Ans: Mostly Dancehall and Hip Hop. I love the beat and the hype it brings
Ques: Is there a favourite meal that you like?
Ans: Typical of most Jamaicans rice and peas and chicken
Ques: Tell me your favourite colour?
Ans: Blue and white
Ques: What types of movie do you watch?
Ans: Horror movies
Ques: Is there anyone that has motivated or impacted your life significantly over the years?
Ans: Kenneth Watson, who guided me while I was at Faulkland and now Kymani Marley, just to name a few. They have always managed to keep me level-headed and grounded while teaching me to remain focus. They’ve helped me a lot on and off the field and being a better person, understanding my craft. My brother, Troy, also has a great influence on my life and he too is a great motivator.
Ques: Do you have a best friend?
Ans: Yes. Nashville Robinson, we’ve been friends for some 6-plus years now
Ques: How tall are you?
Ans: 5’10”
Ques: What’s your favourite quote?
Ans: ‘Jah Jah’
Ques: Which is your most-liked local Premier League team?
Ans: That would have to be Waterhouse and the player I love to watch is Tremaine Stewart. He is compact in his play and very solid.
Ques: Which English Premier League club do you support?
Ans: Manchester United and the speedy Marcus Rashford is the one I love to watch. He is full of unpredictability with the ball at his feet and can be a nightmare for defenders
Ques: Is there a favourite book you’ve ever read?
Ans: Cricket for Fun
Ques: Who is your favourite person to talk sports with?
Ans: Seba Wong
Ques: Can you remember a memorable game you’ve been involved in?
Ans: I actually have quite a few. The 2020 Western CONFED Mid-Season Finale against Reno at Jarrett Park, a Faulkland match against Downs back in 2019 and, of course, the return leg encounter between Faulkland, my old team, and Falmouth. They were all intense and required the best of your giving.
Ques: Which is your favourite venue to play at?
Ans: Jarrett Park
Ques: Is there a local referee that you fancy?
Ans: Yes Daneon Parchement out of Trelawy. Whenever he officiates in a match his presence is always felt and both teams get the same treatment.
