A double murder in Tucker yesterday (Tuesday) is the latest in a spate of shootings rocking St. James and has left four men dead and a teen wounded.
One of the dead men has been identified as Anthony Green, also known as ‘Tubby’ of Dallas, Glendevon. The double murder victims have been identified as Andrew Walters and ‘Busta’, while the fourth remains unidentified.
The Tucker double murder took place sometime before noon. It is understood that gunmen went to the home of Walters, a known carpenter and shot him.
Just minutes later the same men reportedly went to a nearby roadside shop where they shot ‘Busta’.
Residents phoned in to the Western Mirror reporting hearing a barrage of gunshots which reportedly lasted several minutes in sections of Granville and Tucker.
Meanwhile, Green was shot and killed on Tuesday morning by unknown assailants.
Reports indicate that he left home with his four-year-old daughter after 8 a.m. to take her to school. He was said to be seated on a stool near to his home when a car drove up with three men aboard. One man, who was armed with a gun, alighted from the vehicle and opened fire hitting Green several times, including in the chest.
A relative of Green, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Green, who was a past student of the Harrison Memorial High School, returned from a work programme in the United States six-weeks ago and was scheduled to sit a test on Tuesday morning at the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning in Montego Bay. The test would further qualify him to engage in another overseas work programme.
“I don’t know if he was involved in anything with anyone, but he is always on the roadside we always telling him to stay off the road, but he is always out talking with friends.”
And, an unidentified man was also shot and killed by unknown assailants in Flanker on Saturday as the reported gang war continues to cripple the community.
Reports from the Police are that at approximately 7:30 p.m. they responded to a barrage of explosions in the volatile Red Dirt area and went to investigate.
The deceased’s body was seen lying on a dirt track with gunshot wounds to the upper body.
SHOOTING WITH INTENT
In the meantime, a teenager was shot and injured near Barnett and Creek Streets in the early hours of Sunday morning October 29.
The police say about 1:30 a.m. the 19-year-old labourer of a King Street address, was standing near Creek when he was pounced upon and shot in the left leg by unknown assailants.
He managed to escape from his attacker and was later taken to hospital for treatment.
THE 2017-2018 ST. JAMES JUNIOR COUNCIL: Seated: Newly robed Junior Mayor of Montego Bay 2017-2018, Suzanna Hyde (2nd right), Junior Deputy Mayor, Talia Reid (2nd left), Junior Council CEO Devaughn James (right) and Councillor Everest Coke (left), who represented Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis, who was unavoidably absent. Standing are the remaining members of the Junior Council. The Junior Council will serve for a period of one year which ends in October 2018.
VB photo
By Volney Barrett – Freelance Writer
The 2017 annual St. James Junior Mayor Competition was staged on Thursday, October 26, at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, Sam Sharpe Square, by the St. James Municipal Corporation. Winning the event to be crowned Junior Mayor 2017-2018 was Suzanna Hyde of Mt. Alvernia High School.
It was an atmosphere of celebration as 14 teenage students drawn from six St. James-based high schools and the Montego Bay Community College, presented on the topic: Do you believe the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) is effective?
The view of most presenters was that ZOSO will not fully address crime in Jamaica, but will reduce it. ZOSO is the government’s response to rising incidences of murders.
In the meantime, Talia Reid, 16, of Cambridge High School, grabbed second place to be named Junior Deputy Mayor 2017-2018 and 18-year-old Devaughn James of Herbert Morrison Technical High School was named CEO of the Junior Council 2017-2018.
The competition was established following the granting of city status to Montego Bay in 1980. The aim of the competition is to build leadership abilities in students and to give them a better understanding of governance. The group, under Hyde’s leadership, will execute various projects.
The other competitors were: Alliah Bryant,15, of Harrison Memorial High; Janelle Chambers, 18, of Montego Bay High; Jordan Collins, 14, Montego Bay High; Rachel Ellis, 16, Montego Bay Community College; Asha Garwick, 15, Cornwall College; Toni-Shea Grey, 17, Montego Bay Community College; Annissa O’Connor, 16, Maldon High School; Shanalee Scarlett, 18, Green Pond High School; Sasha-Gaye Silk, 19, Mt. Alvernia High; Darien Streets, 13, Cornwall College and Tejano Taylor, 16, Herbert Morrison Technical High School.
Frank Williams can recall to this day, with almost absolute clarity, the verses of the books of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelations. And if you happen to accidentally trip over, or even skip a word or two when reciting them to him, he’ll know, and he’ll correct you. Williams is a great conversationalist, and in his talks, with even strangers, he doesn’t hesitate to offer them words of encouragement. One thing betrays these rather unmistakable attributes of someone full of youth and an abundance of energy – Frank Williams, on the 9th of September this year, celebrated his 103rd birthday.
Born in the year 1914, Williams has seen and endured much of the nation’s struggles for identity and freedom, and even in those tumultuous times, he managed to carve out a life for himself, despite not having much to work with. In Beeston Spring, Westmoreland, the place where Williams lived and grew up to parents Benjamin Williams and Edith Tomlinson, he found that he only needed one thing to make him an honest man – working to put food on the table for his family. Clinging to that principle would drive him for the rest of his life, even to the days when he found himself in the position of parent, fathering seven children of his own.
To simply put food on the table for his family, Williams ventured into a number of different career paths. At one point, he found himself cutting cane, then at another, he was digging trenches. And when those things no longer served his one driving purpose, Williams tried his hand at shoemaking, until he finally opened up his own shop right there in his community. There, he would hone a skill he would find himself using even in his early hundreds – playing Domino.
Williams went around playing in tournaments, and made companions from that leisure activity, as they would sometimes gather at his shop and play for hours on end.
…when they would joke at him that most of his money was spent on food, he would respond that he needs no bank account, because they – his family – were his savings.
Now decades beyond those earlier years, little has changed about Williams. He is a man who loves, and embraces his role as a jovial being, full of life and fervor. Speaking to some of his relatives, the Western Mirror learnt that Williams clung to his mantra of always providing food for his family so much, that some jokingly poked that Williams spent all his life’s savings on food. And though he wasn’t a man big on formal education, he always instilled in his children to be honest people, and to treat those around them kindly. These strong values no doubt helped in the culture of excellence that now flows from generation to generation within his family, with some of his children becoming doctors, grandchildren who are lawyers, and other relatives who have gone on to do well for themselves. So proud is he of these achievements, that when they would joke at him that most of his money was spent on food, he would respond that he needs no bank account, because they – his family – were his savings.
The highly religious Williams, who got baptized in 1942, also got married in that same year, and though his wife predeceased him, Williams continues to hold to the young, bliss-filled memories of those earlier and youthful days.
Now wheelchair-bound but still full of life, the centenarian refuses to grow old. “Williams, how old are you?” – To anyone who would ask that question of him, the 103-year-old always had an answer: “I’m 3 years old.” That’s as old as he’ll ever get in his mind. Even so, life continues to be a bliss for the young-at-heart Williams, so long as he is surrounded by those whose voices he can never forget – his family.
Despite the recent flare-ups in gun violence across the island, the police continue to make small steps in tackling the crime monster raging in the St. James. This, as between Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the police recovered one Smith and Wesson 9mm Pistol, as well as the seizure of over 93 assorted rounds of ammunition, and magazines in separate incidents. In the incident involving the 9mm pistol, the police relayed that they were on patrol in the Rose Heights community, when they came upon four men whose actions aroused their suspicion. They were accosted and subsequently searched, during which the firearm, in addition to five 9mm cartridges, were seized. Despite the recent flare-ups in gun violence across the island, the police continue to make small steps in tackling the crime monster raging in the St. James. This, as between Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the police recovered one Smith and Wesson 9mm Pistol, as well as the seizure of over 93 assorted rounds of ammunition, and magazines in separate incidents.
In the incident involving the 9mm pistol, the police relayed that they were on patrol in the Rose Heights community, when they came upon four men whose actions aroused their suspicion. They were accosted and subsequently searched, during which the firearm, in addition to five 9mm cartridges, were seized. In the other find, the Area One Narcotics Division, along with five Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) personnel, carried out a snap raid at the Port Handlers Container Yard, Barnett Street, Montego Bay, where an incoming shipment was searched, and 93 rounds of assorted ammunition were seized. In that snap raid, a search of the inner panel of a refrigerator revealed approximately forty-four pounds of compressed ganja, which was packed in twenty rectangular packages made of duct tape and plastic. MGN
Renowned Jamaican poet Claude McKay’s classic poem, “If We Must Die”, comes to mind as we contemplate the constant bloodletting in Montego Bay and its environs being carried out by unconscionable, heartless gunmen, hell-bent on creating mayhem in what was once known as “The Friendly City”. “If we must die—let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accursed lot.”
Based on what has been transpiring so far, it would appear that the major stakeholders and our city fathers have surrendered to the gunmen, cowering in abject fear. Clearly, the Police High Command has failed so far to come up with the right solutions, despite the highly-touted Zones of Special Operations (SOZO), which has been implemented in Mt. Salem to no avail.
There was a time when Montego Bay spoke with one, united voice on matters of great importance affecting the city. Nowadays, we are like a Tower of Babel with so many dissonant and cacophonous shrills ending up being merely quotations to fill space in newspapers or news bytes on radio and television newscasts. We recall when a number of prominent citizens including the Mayor, Custos, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other major stakeholders came together and established a City Caucus. This was a non-partisan body whose sole purpose and intention was to provide Montego Bay with effective representation outside of the work of Members of Parliament and Councillors.
The main fruit of that labour was the formation of the Greater Montego Bay Redevelopment Company, which was designed to tackle what was seen as the best road map forward, a Development Plan. Unfortunately, red tape, ambivalence, lack of political will and complacency bordering on dereliction of duty led to the demise of that great coming together. Having sown the wind, we are today reaping the whirlwind because it can be said that the over 21 squatter settlements in the tourist capital have been the breeding ground of rampant criminality and murder.
“Oh, Kinsmen! We must meet the common foe; Though far outnumbered, let us show us brave, And for their thousand blows deal one deathblow! What though before us lies the open grave? Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!”
Notorious gangster, Omar Lewis, otherwise known as “King Evil”, was cut down in a hail of bullets on Wednesday night, as the bloody rampage sweeping the parish of St. James continues unabated.
Lewis was one of six persons shot, four fatally, between Tuesday and Wednesday night.
The deceased are 41-year-old Lewis, of a Canterbury address; 23-year-old Chad McKenzie, fisherman of Rose Heights; 41 year-old Paul Green, security guard of Pond Top, Catadupa; 31-year-old Montgomery Lewis, a taxi operator of Felicity Road, Glendevon, all in St. James.
Two men were also shot along Hart Street and in Cambridge.
In the most recent killing which took place about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Lewis was ambushed and killed in Catherine Hall.
Police reports indicated that Lewis had just entered his white Toyota Axio motor car, which was parked on the roadway near to a house in the community, when another car drove up and three men armed with guns alighted and opened fire.
Unconfirmed reports to the Western Mirror are that Lewis was shot at least nine times as he sat in his car. He was found in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
Police also report that numerous spent shells from high-powered rifles and pistols were found on the scene, while a Taurus pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition were found in Lewis’ car where he was killed.
The ill-fated car in which Omar ‘King Evil’ Lewis was shot and killed
Shortly after the killing, gunshots erupted in sections of the city, in the vicinity of Hart Street and Barnett Street, and also his home community of Canterbury.
Occupants of a car were also allegedly robbed by four armed men.
Lewis was recently deported to Jamaica after serving a prison sentence in Florida for gun possession.
He had fled the island for the United States in 2008 after being linked to a murder here. Lewis was subsequently apprehended bylaw enforcement agents in 2009 in the US for gun possession.
Meanwhile, three other men were killed in the parish on Tuesday night as, the murder statistics continue to rise.
McKenzie of Rose Heights and Green of Catadupa were killed just over 2 hours apart as detectives were kept busy in the parish.
McKenzie was shot and killed at approximately 11:20 p.m.by unknown assailants.
The police report that McKenzie was watching television with a group of men at the popular Fisherman’s Beach on Howard Cooke Boulevard, when he was pounced upon by a lone gunman.
He was struck in the upper body and was later pronounced dead at hospital.
Meanwhile, Green, the security guard, was gunned down by unknown assailants, as he walked home from work.
Reports are that about 9:30 p.m., residents heard a barrage of explosions and called the police. When they arrived, Green’s body was seen along the train line with bullet wounds to the head.
TAXI MAN CUT DOWN
In the case of the taxi operator, Lewis, it is reported that about 2:10 a.m., he was gunned down at the intersection of William and St. James Streets by unknown assailants as he alighted from the vehicle.
The killing of Omar Lewis has pushed the number of murders in St. James to 256 since the start of the year.
“He will always be a slave who does not know how to live upon a little.” – Horace.
A few years ago, I decided to ruthlessly cut my monthly expenses, to trim all the fat, just to see what number I could get it down to. Turns out that if you’re serious and committed, you can reduce your bills by almost half, or more. But we humans tend to grow our tastes and desires when our income appreciates. It’s just that the allure of acquiring stuff is given so much airtime, most of us fall prey and become economic slaves. Mortgage, car payments, credit cards, student loan… Being in debt is the new normal, so much so that most of us will die in the red. We don’t talk about it much, but the constant pressure of always owing somebody something must be a source of great stress and distress. That’s no way to live; trading in metal chains for paper ones…
TO MY FEARS
“The most onerous slavery is to be a slave to oneself.” – Seneca.
Fear is not real. Danger is, but fear exists only in our minds, a notion of what might or will happen next or at some to-be-determined juncture. That’s paraphrased from the Will Smith movie ‘After Earth.’ And it’s got some truth to it. When you analyse the stench, as Bob Marley used to say, it really makes a lot of sense. Most of us will never be victims of a violent attack, a motor vehicle accident, or a sudden critical illness but we live as if we’re in anticipation of bad things, waiting for something to happen. Yet, if you were to ask a thousand random persons what their greatest fear was, if they’re honest, probably 90% would not mention anything related to crime or violence. So what’s numbers one through five? I suppose the fairly recent spate of aeroplane crashes hasn’t reassured many about just how statistically safe it is to fly. The possibility of terrorist hijackings doesn’t help either. Despite all the crime and talks of war, an aversion to public speaking remains top of persons’ fear factoring. I can relate. I was there, not that many years ago either. It feels like your entire nervous system is about to collapse. Isn’t that something? We’re more afraid of what people will think than we are about dying. Fear of heights, the dark and intimacy round off the top five but you’ll note again that no mention of illness or death. I wonder sometimes if those who control mass media and means of propaganda intentionally cultivate a culture of fear to make often intrusive and oppressive governance seem necessary. But the numbers don’t add up. The few gunmen compared with the citizenry and security forces, the crash statistics of planes versus cars, our unrealistic trepidation of impending doom, religious and otherwise, make us shackled skeletons of our true selves.
TO THE SYSTEM
“Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern but impossible to enslave.” – Baron Henry Peter Brougham.
Learn this. Do that, then you’ll be considered successful. You and I know more than our fair share of educated fools convinced of their newfound superiority because they spent X dollars to learn something new. That’s all education is, (paid) access to information. So how exactly does that translate into someone magically becoming superior to his fellow human being because he or she allegedly ‘knows’ more? It’s comical actually if you think about it. The evolution of how we’ve been told and taught to view our human advancement is based on what we’ve inherited from our former colonial masters. We still have their names, buildings, systems and formally recognise a Queen, so why would we think how we think and act is any different? See, not that long ago, people of colour (and women in general) couldn’t attend institutions of higher learning. Jump a generation or so forward and after Universal Adult Suffrage, we see education as a rare privilege to be thankful for the opportunity to pursue. Hop and skip some more and we’re where the standards of achievement have slackened to compensate for poorer effort and grades, and many in this generation see education as a chore, a waste of time. Now, all that has happened in less than seventy years, just over two generations. From no access to no desire. From fight to privilege to right to blight. When what we learn doesn’t effectively contribute to improving our condition, should it still be considered education, or intentional miseducation, which means to educate improperly intentionally? We’re so plugged into this system that we barely stop to ask ourselves and each other, what are we learning, teaching, doing and why?
TO MY PAST
“If you put a chain around the neck of a slave, the other end fastens itself around your own.”
– Emerson.
Slavery did enslave the captors, not enough to make me feel sorry for them though. Every time I hear the term ‘old money’ with reference to holdings in North America and the Caribbean, I think of ‘slave labour powered money.’ The industrial revolution was funded by slaves, our ancestors. So, if like borrowing from a bank I used your human capital to enhance my financial resource, then obviously there should be a repayment of the loan amount plus interest. That’s how I know business works. Still, that issue of reparations will continue to be argued long after I’m gone. What we’re dealing with in the present is a fixation on the past. I’m so and so, that’s why I can’t so and so. And you can fill in any list of excuses and reasons there. Yes, we have been robbed in many ways and we’re the stronger and more resilient for it. Now what? Beg and cry while doing nothing about it or fight and take or make use of the anger and energy that is latent and potent inside us? The fewer looks back or internal fights about what should or could have been we have, the faster and more effective we can move forward. Guilt is most times an unnecessary shackle around our necks. True freedom has to come from a place where we feel free to live and reasonably do as we please, and the pre-conditions to that include, among other things, emancipation from mental and economic slavery. B+ Email comments to brib74@yahoo.com
Thursday, October 19 2017, remains etched in the mind of a grieving father as the worst day of his life, as he was forced to drive the gunshot-riddled body of his wounded son from their home in Pond Road, Montpelier, to the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), Montego Bay in a desperate bid to save his life.
His efforts were in vain, as his son, 21-year-old Henry Rose Junior, otherwise known as ‘Alli’, a chef, was pronounced dead by doctors on arrival at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
Rose was allegedly shot and killed by unknown assailants, about 6:45 p.m., on Thursday evening just metres from his house, while being driven home by his father after running an errand.
‘I GOT SHOT’
In recalling to the Western Mirror how the incident occurred, Henry Senior said he and his now deceased son, were driving in his Suzuki Jeep motor vehicle, heading home from some errands, when on reaching a few metres from their house, they were ambushed by men armed with guns, who opened gunfire at the vehicle, shooting up its left side.
The father further revealed that when the shooting stopped, his son said, “I got shot”. Mr. Rose said in hearing those words from his son, he sprang into action and quickly drove from the area and headed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital.
On arrival, he got the chilling news – Henry Rose Junior was dead. He succumbed to his injuries
“WASN’T A GOOD FEELING”
Henry Senior said he felt empty inside when his son died. “It wasn’t a good feeling, to know such a promising person was taken away and in such a manner”, he said.
“His achievement in such a short life was exceptional, just remarkable,” he noted, “it is what is now keeping me going,” a remorseful Rose said.
Rose said the family is now reeling from the tragic loss, and a pall of gloom now covers the South St. James community of Pond Road.
pond Road He described his deceased son as “the best you can ever imagine; I am very, very, very, very, proud of him and to have been his father”.
Henry Rose Junior attended the Herbert Morrison Technical High school where he excelled, having attained 11 subjects before leaving for HEART TRUST NTA, Kenilworth Campus, to pursue culinary studies.
He was described as an outstanding individual, and was also a member of Jamaica’s delegation which participated in the Taste of the Caribbean Culinary Festival in June of this year.
The deceased, who was a ‘Chef De Partie’, a level three qualification, also entered several competitions while at the Kenilworth Campus and won numerous trophies and medals, among them gold in 2015 and silver a year later.
“Nobody had anything bad to say about him; his sense of humor was just contagious. He was such a respectful, competitive, self-motivated person, well disciplined, committed, caring, nothing but the best,” concluded Henry Senior.
St. James continues to bleed profusely, as marauding gunmen continue to snuff out the lives of several citizens. Over the last weekend, of 16 persons shot, nine have succumbed to their wounds. So far, unconfirmed reports reveal that 264 persons have been killed since the start of the year, thus making the parish the murder capital of Jamaica. This, despite the presence of the first Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) in the Mt. Salem community.
Those murdered have been identified as 31-year-old Dorian Shaw, also known as ‘Hotta Ball’, waiter of Branch Hill, Rose Heights; 37-year-old Andrew Lewis, graphic artist of Norwood; 40-year-old Lenworth Lauther, shopkeeper of Over River, Orange; 24-year-old Daniel Anglin, otherwise known as ‘Don’, an auto body repair man; 23-year-old Shawn Titus, also known as ‘Pepsi’,unemployed, both of Corbett Drive, Flanker; 25-year-old Jhevani James, otherwise called ‘Scarey’ and ‘Jev’ of Bread Lane, and 24-year-old Shavorna Crystal Brown, otherwise called ‘Chrissy’ a chef of Spot Valley and Bread Lane in St. James.
Up to press time, two of the male victims remain unidentified.
Six others, including a 19-year-old from Catherine Hall, were also shot and wounded during the bloody weekend.
The spate of killings, which has left some residents riddled with fear, saw the most daring attack unfolding along the Flanker main road in the vicinity of the stoplight.
In that incident, five men were shot, two fatally.
According to police reports, just before 10 p.m. on Sunday night, October 22, five men were aboard a Toyota Mark X, when on reaching the stoplight, another vehicle drove up and the occupants opened fire, hitting the men.
Two died while the other three, one of whom remains unidentified, were admitted to hospital.
Meanwhile, before daybreak on Sunday, another shooting took place, leaving Shaw dead.
About 1:30 a.m., Shaw was shot and killed by unknown assailants. Information reaching the Western Mirror is that Shaw had just finished working a gig at a popular entertainment spot in the second city and was on his way home when he was pounced upon and shot.
His father and aunt worked at the same gig and were stunned to hear of his death just moments after they had seen him.
ANOTHER DOUBLE KILLING
Elsewhere, another double killing rocked the second city, this on Saturday, October 21, when common-law couple, Jhevani James and Crystal Brown, were shot dead.
Police report that about 11:30 p.m., the two were travelling in a grey Toyota motorcar on their way home from the hair salon, when on reaching a section of the upscale Leaders Avenue area, they were ambushed by men in another car armed with AK-47’s.
The couple, which was travelling from Queen’s Drive towards Paradise, was shot multiple times before the car in which they were travelling crashed into an embankment.
James was found slumped over the steering wheel, while Crystal Brown was seen in the passenger seat.
The two leave behind a child.
Police say they are yet to unearth a motive for the stinging attack.
In the meantime, as the killings show no signs of letting up, Lewis, a graphic artist of a Norwood address, was gunned down about 6:10 p.m., also on Saturday.
Police say some residents of a section of Gulf Norwood where Lewis resides, heard him arguing with another man.
He was later found in a room of his dwelling with a single gunshot wound to the head.
Two more unidentified men were also killed on Saturday.
In those cases, one was cut down in the volatile Salt Spring area about 12:30 p.m.
Police gave information that residents heard shots and called them and when they arrived, the body of a man was seen with several gunshot wounds to the face.
Two .40 spent casings were also taken from the scene as police started their investigations.
In another case, as detectives were kept busy throughout MoBay, Shanty Town in Norwood was the next scene, where another unidentified man was slain.
The now deceased was reportedly at a car wash when he was attacked by unknown assailants who chased and shot him several times.
Police found him lying in a pool of blood and took him to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
BLOODLETTING BEGAN ON FRIDAY
The murderous weekend began on Friday, which left Lauther of Over River dead.
Reports gathered are that about 12:20 p.m., Lauther was among a group of men standing along Barnett Lane when two men, brandishing guns, walked up and opened fire, hitting two men.
Both were taken to hospital where the shopkeeper, Lauther, died and the other man treated and admitted.
Eight 9mm spent shells and another four .45 casings were discovered at the scene.
Another shooting also took place along the much-traversed St. James Street, leaving a robot taxi operator badly injured.
Police indicate that the 29-year-old taxi operator, who hailed from Rose Heights, was soliciting passengers for his vehicle in the vicinity of the Bargain Depot when he was pounced upon and shot in the upper body. He was taken to hospital where he remains in serious condition.
A 19-year-old was also shot in the middle-class community of Catherine Hall on Saturday night.
Police say the wounded teen went to a house to make a phone call when shots were heard.
He was rushed to hospital.
About 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, two men, an electrician and a student, were travelling on a motor cycle along the Green Pond main road, when two men armed with guns opened fire at them. The electrician was grazed, however, both managed to escape.
FOLLOW ME BOY: Herbert Morrison Technical High’s National Youth representative, Rahiem Heaven, tugs at the shirt of Cornwall College’s Mikhail Samuels, stringing him along as the two battle for possession of the ball during first half action of the ISSA FRESHH Under-16 match-up at Bogue at the start of the weekend. ‘Herbie’ shared wins with their old foes, blanking them 2-0. Noelita Lawrence photo
‘Herbie’ share spoils
Noelita Lawrence
Rivals Cornwall College and Herbert Morrison Technical High shared the honours as action got underway in the ISSA/FRESHH Rural Under 14, Under-16 Schoolboy Football Competitions at the start of the weekend.
CC marked the first victory between the two in the Under-14 section, making a winning start to the defense of their All-Island crown with a narrow 1-0 triumph, while ‘Herbie’ earned a share of the spoils with a business-like 2-0 blanking of their old foes in the Under-16 Division.
Giovanni Bruce netted the vital goal for the CC team in the Under-14 section, while it was Devrow McKenzie and Rahiem Heaven who netted for ‘Herbie’ in their victory.
SHAKY START
Defending champions CC made a less than-ideal start to the defense of the crown and failed to get out of first gear, as they played to break the deadlock in the first half of the scrappy contest.
The bustling Bruce broke the deadlock early in the second half when he capitalized on a defensive lapse, robbing his marker of the ball before advancing three steps to rifle a ball into the back of the net.
‘Herbie’ played in spurts and offered little in the attacking third, but it was the guests, Cornwall, who managed the muddy underfoot conditions to pull off the win over their hosts.
U-16 SHOWDOWN
Meanwhile, it was all ‘Herbie’ in the Under-16 clash as the hosts dominated their opponents in all areas of the field.
McKenzie sent the maroon and creamclad Bogue-based school ahead when he lashed in a ball, getting on the end of a defense splitting pass.
Heaven quickly made it 2-0 with a well-taken goal.
Elsewhere, St. James High recorded double victory away to Maldon.
St. James High recorded the widest margin of victory in the Under-14 section, slamming Maldon 6-0 but shared the points in the Under-16 match-up after being held 1-1.
Green Pond, who just missed the Under-16 semi-final last year by a single point, ran over late-arriving Spot Valley 2-1, while the Under-14 match was not played as no team arrived.
The teams will be back in action on Tuesday with Cornwall at home to Maldon; St. James High entertaining Green Pond and Spot Valley at home to Herbert Morrison Technical High.
The competition started on Friday and saw Irwin running out impressive 5-1 winners over Cambridge in the Under-16 encounter.
The Under-14 match w as called off as Cambridge arrived a t the venue without ID’s.
Zone ‘B’ action returns to the field later today with Knockalva meeting Irwin at home; Hopewell travelling to Cambridge and Anchovy hosting Rusea’s.
