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Disconnected

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Fitzroy Williams - Chief Executive Officer - Jamaica Railway Corporation
  • Four shop owners nabbed for electricity theft

 

Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter

 

four shop operators at the problem plagued People’s Arcade in Montego Bay, St. James are now behind bars for illegal abstraction of electricity after a joint police and Jamaica Public service team swooped down on the facility last Thursday.

The four includes three men who were part of a major wood work shop being operated with electrical connections but no metre, while the fourth man operates a juice factory.

Lesgar McGrath, Large Accounts Officer of the JPS told the Western Mirror that the operation was conducted to investigate and remove illegal connections to JPS’ secondary lines.

He said of the more than 400 shops at the arcade only 15 were legally connected to its system and therefore it was forced to disconnect hundreds of illegal lines at the facility.

“Based on our assessment we are losing over $560,000 dollars monthly due to illegal abstractions at the arcade, with a conservative figure of $6.7 million annually”, he explained.

The disconnections in the meantime have plunged the arcade into another round of controversy with shop operators accusing the management of the Jamaica Railway Corporation of placing a stop order on the shops from legally accessing electricity.

STOP ORDER

“Why is there a stop order? We cannot do business because we have no electricity and despite the fact that we have taken the legal route we have been denied.  Shop owners and tenants have taken the requisite actions to gain legal access, so why are we being denied?” asked Jodi- Ann Blair, who along with Godfrey Norman, operate a restaurant and bar at the arcade.

Oneil Williams, who operates a restaurant, showed a copy of the form from the Ministry of Energy and Mining – Electrical Division which was filled out by an electrician to pass his shop as fit for connection to the JPS lines.  He further said the form was submitted to the JPS but no connection was made to the shop.

“So why is it that we have to be facing these embarrassing situations, when we have done the correct thing? he questioned.

JRC DENIAL

Fitzroy Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Railway Corporation, when contacted, denied that there was a stop order – but indicated that he was preparing to send a document to the Jamaica Public Service to advise the company as to how to proceed.

He said the shop operators already know that there is no stop order but that they should approach the JRC who is the property owner who would advise them what to do under the plan to regularize operations at the facility.

“These persons will have to initiate contact with the JRC and we will begin a process that will lead to the formalization of operations. We are not going to go ahead and give them a letter to continue the informal arrangement and we want to fulfil a broader objective of regularizing the use of the facility so JPS will be advised as to how to proceed when these persons approach them,” Mr. Williams said.

Mr. McGrath, in the meantime, told the Western Mirror that many shop operators went to the JPS with the official form passing their shops as fit:“but we cannot give them electricity without proof of ownership of the property or a letter from the owner saying ‘yes’ – you are authorised to provide electricity supply to this customer.  So, the Jamaica Public Service cannot take a contract without a letter of authorization from the owner and the Jamaica Railway Corporation is the owner of the property,” McGrath pointed out.

Four killed in St. James

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Dwayne Malahoo

Noelita Lawrence – Staff Reporter

 

Robert Gibbs

The bloodletting in the murder stained parish of St. James shows no signs of letting up, with shootings claiming the lives of four men, two in the volatile community of Flanker.

Those killed have been identified as 46-year-old Dwayne Malahoo, a shop operator of Central Avenue, Flanker; 22-year-old Robert Gibbs, also known as ‘Dada’, of Headley Quarters, also in Flanker; 18-year-old Tris Gulpin of Matches Lane, Rose Heights, and 22-year-old David Arnold, otherwise called ‘Ron’, unemployed of Beverly Hills, Norwood.

The blood bath started in Flanker on Friday night with the killing of Malahoo.

The police say residents of Central Avenue heard gunfire about 11:30 and called them.

According to reports, Malahoo was attacked by armed men who engaged him in conversation before shooting him.

It was further reported that after being shot Malahoo ran in an attempt to get away from his attackers but was chased, cornered and shot several times, mostly to the upper body.

The police say while they were processing that crime scene about 2 a.m., they heard gunshots nearby and went to investigate. They, however, found nothing. About 4 a.m., residents found Gibbs’ body and again called the cops.

On the arrival of the police, his bullet-riddled body was found on the ground.

Another shooting incident in Flanker on Sunday saw a 15-year-old student escaping unharmed.

The teen was reportedly sitting on his verandah in Red Dirt about 5:20 p.m., when he was pounced upon by a lone gunman known to him. He was shot at but managed to escape.

In the meantime, gunfire erupted in Matches Lane, Rose Heights on Saturday evening, leaving a teenager dead.

Eighteen-year-old Tris Gilpin was cut down in his community after gunshots rang out shortly after 7 p.m.

Reports from the Montego Bay Police are that about 7:28 p.m., residents heard explosions and summoned them.

On arrival of the lawmen, Gilpin was seen lying on a section of the roadway with several gunshot wounds.

He was pronounced dead at hospital.

GUNNED DOWN IN SAMMY BUSH

David Arnold

 

David Arnold was shot dead in Sammy Bush, Norwood on Friday afternoon.

According to the Montego Hills Police, about 2:45 p.m., residents reportedly heard gunshots and summoned them to the area.

On their arrival, Arnold was found lying on his back with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.

He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

GRIEVING MOTHER

David’s mother, Letisha Arnold, who lost her husband Linford in 2006 and her son Adam in 2008, was beside herself with grief, when she got news of her son’s death from one of her daughters.

“A don’t know how much more mi can bear. Ron nuh trouble people so I don’t know what happen,” said Mrs. Arnold.

Mrs. Arnold, who walks with the aid of crutches, related that the family was at their Beverly Hills home on Friday, including Ron, when she left home for a while to tend to some personal matters. Upon her return, she was greeted with the devastating news.

“I ask them what happen, everybody alright, where is Ron? They gave me a seat and that is when my daughter told me that Ron had been shot and is dead, it was like a dagger to my heart”. I began to tremble,” said a grieving Mrs. Arnold.

“He was so dear to me, dear to me heart”, she noted.

Over 240 persons have been killed in St. James since the start of the year, the highest number in any of the nine Police Divisions in the island which has accounted for more than 1,260 murders since January 1.

Barrington Flemming also contributed  

Two more MoBay murders

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Andra Williams

Noelita Lawrence

Staff Reporter

 

Downtown Montego Bay erupted with gunfire in the wee hours of Thursday morning, October 12, leaving two men, a barber and a bread vendor, dead.

The dead men have been identified as 38-year-old Marlon Gayle, a bread vendor of Catherine Lane, and 34-year-old Andra Williams, a barber of Red Dirt, Flanker, both in St.  James.

The two men were killed hours apart and metres away from each other.

In the first killing, which occurred about 12:05 a.m., Williams, the barber, was along the intersection of St. James Street and the popular Barnett Street near the police station.

It is reported that police personnel on duty at the station heard explosions and went to investigate.

The report indicates that upon arriving near the scene, a man, armed with two guns, was observed running towards a black motor vehicle when further gunshots rang out.

The man seen running entered a waiting vehicle which then sped off along with another that was parked behind it.

Checks of the area revealed the bullet-riddled body of Williams, who was then rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

BREADMAN CUT DOWN

Just over an hour later, detectives were again summoned into action. This time along the nearby Catherine Lane.

In this instance, Gayle was found motionless and with gunshot wounds.

Police reports are that approximately 1:45 a.m., Gayle’s common law wife was at home with their children when gunshots were heard.

A check was made and Gayle’s body was seen lying with bullet wounds.

The police were called.

No motive has been established for any of the killings.

The latest killings come on the heels of a spate of killings and shootings in and around the outskirts of the second city at the weekend.

In those incidents, two men were gunned down and another left injured.

The latest killings have pushed the murder tally to 241 in the parish since the start of the year.

Entertainment spotlight – Militant: Armed and ready for Dancehall

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Militant in his element

 

His voice is as commanding as his amazing onstage presence, there is no denying Militant is a star in the making. The new Rushsheik Records signee, whose father is a deacon, grew up in a Christian home in the cool countryside of Content, St. James.

“My mother is a missionary, so I’ve been singing from a tender age, but I started in the business officially in 2015,” the artiste stated.
Militant has graced the stages of Pier 1, Aquasol and a major performance at Reggae Sumfest 2016. The up and comer is ready to take over the dancehall game.

Stay tuned for more on Militant.

‘Gun Dog’ one of three killed by police

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Paul Jay Lewis, the deceased G-City gang member
  • G-City member too

Two brothers and an alleged member of the Salt Spring-based G-City gang, have been killed in separate confrontations with the police.

They have been identified as 33-year-old Garth Stewart, otherwise called ‘Gun Dog’, and his 20-year-old brother Davian Whyte, aka ‘Crocs’, both of Cane Curran, Darliston in Westmoreland, and Paul Jay Lewis, also called ‘Jay’, of Cornwall Court, Montego Bay. The police say Jay was a member of the G-City gang which recently threatened the police.

Garth ‘Gun Dog’ Stewart

The brothers were killed in an encounter with the police in Westmoreland early Wednesday morning. A female relative was also shot during the incident.

‘Jay’ was killed when he reportedly engaged the police in a shootout in Old Harbour, St. Catherine on Tuesday.

Reports are that the police carried out a pre-dawn special operation in the Darliston community of Cane Curran Wednesday. On the approach of the police at a home where about eight men were seen, the group opened fire on the police.

The police say a running gun-battle ensued, following which two males and a female were hit.Two firearms were recovered, a .357 magnum with six live rounds and a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol with two rounds.

All three injured persons were taken to the hospital where Stewart and Whyte were pronounced dead, and the female admitted in stable condition.

Police sources say ‘Gun Dog’ was wanted for murder, shooting and illegal firearm. He was also convicted for gun-running in the Grand Cayman as well as held with a weapon in Cuba, from which he is believed to have fled to Jamaica in recent times.

‘Gun Dog’ was said to be an active player in the gun trade. He has been on the Westmoreland police’s Most Wanted list since 2013.

G-CITY MEMBER KILLED

Meanwhile, Lewis died from injuries he received during a shooting incident with the police in Red Ground Square, Old Harbour.

A Glock 40 Pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition was also taken from him.

Reports are that about 6:30 a.m., a team of officers went to apprehend Lewis, who confronted them with the Glock 40 Pistol, during which he was shot and injured.  The firearm was taken from him and he was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The police say Lewis and members of the G-City gang recently threatened to kill members of the security forces following the fatal shooting of the gang leader Daniel Whittaker, otherwise called ‘Dan Dan’ in Melbourne, Salt Spring in September.

The police say Lewis was a known violence producer in St. James and was the target of several police operations; he however, eluded them and was displaced to Old Harbour.

According to the police since the launch of the Zones of Special Operations in St. James, criminals are leaving the area to other parts outside of the parish and as such the security forces have implemented a displacement strategy to capture them.

 

Only son mowed down

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Michael Mittoo

A hit-and-run driver is being sought after his senseless act ripped to shreds a mother’s love in the wee hours of last Friday morning, (October 6), when her lone offspring was killed in gruesome fashion along the Hopewell main road in Hanover.

The victim is 23-year-old Michael Mittoo of Pond Peace, Hopewell.

The Western Mirror understands that a well-known taxi operator is being sought for the deadly act.

It’s reported that about 4:53 a.m., Mittoo was walking along the Orchard Housing Scheme main road doing his usual early morning walk, when he was hit and left for dead.

A close family member disclosed that Mittoo, while attempting to cross the roadway, on the date mentioned, was run over by a car.

Further reports are that several other vehicles coming from the direction of Sandy Bay, also ran over the body of Mittoo as it laid in the street.

Mittoo’s body was discovered by persons doing their early morning jogging exercise, who called the Sandy Bay police.

A grief-stricken family member, fighting desperately to hold back the tears as she spoke with the Western Mirror disclosed that Mittoo was preparing to migrate, where he would rejoin with his mother in the United States.

“He would soon be leaving he was getting ready to leave to join his mother in the US”, the aunt disclosed as she wiped tears from her eyes.

“He was a very creative person, one who loved art and music, a great person, full of intelligence”.

“He was just enjoying the rest of his time here while the final touches on his departure were being done. He would have left this island by May or June of next year; his mother must be in shambles,” the aunt said.

“It is such a great loss to her and the family; he was her only child and was so cruelly ripped from her.  It was an untimely death and a vicious way for him to go.”

Unconfirmed reports are that a popular taxi driver, who has been operating in the area and is known to be on the road in the wee hours of the mornings, is being sought for questioning in relation to the hit and run.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact the police.

WOMAN’S BODY FOUND

Meanwhile, the body of woman found along a section of the Spring Gardens main road near in Reading, St. James, remains unidentified.

 

‘Bull Duck’, ‘Scammer Dawg’ murdered

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Tevin Watson

Two more murders were recorded in St. James on the weekend, as the parish continues to reel from gun violence.

Those killed have been identified as 26-year-old Oshane Martin, otherwise known as ‘Bull Duck’ of Rose Heights, and 23-year-old Tevin Watson also called ‘Scammer Dawg’ of Gunns Drive, Granville, and Potosi district, John’s Hall.

In the case of Martin, he was gunned down in Irwin by unknown assailants in a section of the community called Over River, on Saturday, October 7.

According to the Mount Salem Police, about 6:30 p.m., residents heard a barrage of explosions and summoned them to the area, where Martin’s bullet-riddled body was seen lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

The Western Mirror has been reliably informed that the slain man was among patrons at a football game being staged in the area when upon approaching his car, parked near the River Side Open Bible Church, he was pounced upon and shot   several times.

Unconfirmed reports are that he was attacked and shot several times in the upper body by three men as he tried to get into his vehicle.

Five 9MM spent shells were removed from the scene.

Detectives say no motive has yet been established for the killing, but added that a couple of early leads are being looked at.

A man, who claimed to have been in the area when the incident occurred, revealed to the Western Mirror that the killing took place just the one time that no police were present at the more than three-week-long run competition.

“Yow, from the League start enuh police always deh yah and just the one time dem no come, you see waah gwaan,” he lamented.

“Tings a gwaan good, good roun yah, ball a play, everybody mello and everything did nice, now dis”.

MURDER ON HUGGA LANE

Meanwhile, just half an hour before, Crime Scene detectives were summoned to a section of the volatile Norwood community known as Hugga Lane, where Tevin Watson’s body was seen.

Details remain sketchy but the Montego Hills police say at 6 p.m., Watson’s body was seen on its back with gunshot wounds to the face and neck.

No motive has established for the killing, but Police say anyone who can assist them in their investigations is being asked to contact the Montego Hills Police at 952-8626, Police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station.

COP TO BE CHARGED IN US NATIONAL’S DEATH

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Heidi-Ann Muth, the slain US teacher

A district constable attached to the Resort Board in Montego Bay is in custody in connection with the death of American retired teacher, 68-year-old Heidi-Ann Muth, whose body was found in the upscale Ironshore community recently.

The Courtesy Corp cop was found in possession of a cloned copy of the murdered woman’s credit card. The officer is now being held in the Barrett Town police lock up pending charges and court appearance. He is likely to be charged soon. He was arrested on Tuesday.

Muth’s death made international headlines when, according to several reports, the retired teacher journeyed to Jamaica to collect lottery winnings. When family members in the US grew suspicious, checks were made, following which local media revealed that Muth’s body was stumbled upon by residents in the Ironshore community on Sunday, September 10. The body was found to have several stab wounds.

Overseas news entities say Muth was lured to Jamaica by lotto scammers.

More details to follow as story develops.

Supercentenarian’s body donated to science

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The body of the late Violet Moss Brown, commonly known as ‘Aunt V’, who for a brief period held the status as the world’s oldest person, is to be donated to the University of the West Indies, according to information from the family.

Last Thursday, the family announced as part of funeral arrangements, that Mrs. Moss Brown’s body will be donated to the research unit at the university. It is expected that as soon as they are able to pay their respects to her, the body will be sent to the facility in Kingston where research will be carried out to possibly determine the secrets to her longevity. Aunt V was born March 10, 1900 and lived in Duanvale all her life where she was a farmer and a records keeper for the cemetery.

The funeral for Mrs. Moss Brown will held on October 7 in Duanvale at the Baptist Church with the body lying in-state for two hours on the day for persons to have a final look at the woman who was the world’s oldest. A massive turnout is expected in Duanvale.
Aunt V was a supercentenarian who lived to be 117 years old and was categorized as the world’s oldest person from April until her death last month. Just before her death, she was presented with the honour by representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records.

-S.B.

‘We are not whores!’ – Mt. Salem women say

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Placard-bearing women of Mount Salem in St. James protesting their disapproval of a statement by the head of JSIF that 80 percent of young women in the ZOSO-declared community were involved in some form of prostitution.

Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter

“First, we were the most murderous community, now we are a den of prostitutes, what’s next?”
That’s one of the many reactions of residents of Mt. Salem in Montego Bay, St. James, following a statement by Omar Sweeney, Executive Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund,JSIF, that 85 percent of young women in the community are involved in some form of prostitution.

Mr. Sweeney made the statement last Friday and earned the ire of both men and women in Mt. Salem (which is the first site of the Zone of Special Operations), some of whom hurled expletives at him for what they term as his blatant bias against the community.
A group of angry placard-bearing women took to the streets in Mt. Salem on Friday in protest against Sweeney’s statement, bearing such messages as ‘Get your facts before you speak! We are not whores!’, ‘Mr. Sweeny do not discriminate our ladies’.

“You are a lying, wicked man; they branded the community the murder capital and now you brand it the den of prostitution, you are evil”, shouted one woman. Another said: “Capital N–O! Not true Mr. Sweeney; our young ladies are working class people, some of whom are university students and graduates; you are so wrong.”
An upset,Winsome Barnes, Community Development Committee Chairman for Mt. Salem, chided Mr. Sweeney for the statement,which she says further cast the community in a bad light after it was labelled the murder capital of Jamaica at the time the Prime Minister designated the area the first Zone of Special Operations,ZOSO.

RED LIGHT DISTRICT

“As a person who lives in Mount Salem, you would have to show me the 85 percent of young women who are prostitutes. So, if that is happening, you need to open Mount Salem to be a ‘Red Light’ district. Other community members and leaders are really disgusted by this statement, as we are trying to build a community and I know we have challenges, but 85 percent of my young ladies are not prostitutes,” she declared.
Miss Barnes is calling for a meeting with Mr, Sweeney, as JSIF is the agency, which has responsibility for social intervention programmes in the community under the ZOSO.

For her part, Olivia Shaw, Founder of the Mt. Salem-based Women of Destiny – a group which seeks to guide and empower young women, said it hurts her to the core that Mr. Sweeney could have issued such a damaging statement, after his agency has been charged with t he responsibility to help to build the community.

“For someone who has power and status, who is supposed to come and work with us now to provide us with the resources to make things better, that same person is going to be saying that the majority of the young women are involved in prostitution. That is appalling”.
“When someone like this, brands Mount Salem as gangs and murder den and now prostitution den, no one will want to be associated with us and to hire us based on the nasty, ugly brand that overshadows the community and its citizens,” an angry Olivia Shaw, who is the reigning St. James Festival Queen, said.
Meanwhile, Damion Crawford, PNP spokesman on Youth, said statements such as this can have long lasting impact due to the stigmatization of communities and their residents.

He said the research, which was done in the form of a focus group of 50 participants, cannot be used to make generalized statements as inflammatory as this about the community.
Crawford said the method used by Sweeney to inform his utterance is extremely flawed, citing that his interactions with the community and its residents suggest that the statement is untrue.

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