Shane Dalling, NIF initiate clear up at open lot

Shane Dalling, councillor for the Westchester division, with the assistance of the National Insurance Fund (NIF), has initiated a massive clean-up of an open lot near the communities of Newland and Southborough where criminals disposed of bodies of persons they had killed in shallow graves last December.

Last December, the Portmore police discovered the bodies of three men buried in shallow graves in an open area off Germaine road. Two of the men were identified as 32-year-old labourer Esmond Morris of Cumberland and Clive Reid, 24, otherwise called 'Jerky' of Washington Mews.

The land formerly housed Jamintel and is about 100 acres of 'macca' trees and bush. After the incident in December, Councillor Dalling gave his commitment to have the entire area cleared in order to prevent a reoccurrence of any such crime.

Dalling said he lobbied the owner of the land - the National Insurance Fund (NIF) and the minister with responsibility for NIF, Pearnel Charles, to allocate funds to bush the area. After months of lobbying, a contract was finally awarded to the National Solid Waste Management Authority to clear the entire land.

That promise was fulfilled and work has started in the area and will see the land being fully bushed and cleared of the debris. The work, which costs over $10 million, started on August 13. "I am absolutely pleased and satisfied that the work has finally started, the residents of Washington Mews, Newlands and Southboro have contacted me and commended me for what they believe is a dream come true," Councillor Dalling said.

He added that the area was a sore eye for many residents for years, and it was further compounded by it being used as a "burying ground". "The entire area went into shock and fear after the discovery of the bodies, last year, but today, I have to assure the residents that no longer will criminals reign supreme under the cover of this area, they will have to go elsewhere," he said.

The bushing is not where the project stops, as the Minister Charles and Housing Minister Dr Horace Chang, have started discussion as to the future use of the land, with a view of building houses and expanding the Westmeade Willows housing scheme which is currently being built.

The Portmore police have also welcomed the move since it will assist them in viewing the entire area from one location as well as being able to capture criminals easier. "We welcome this initiative. That area has been overgrown for sometime now, and it allowed the criminals to hide easily. The clearing of that land reduces the danger to the police working in that area, and we are now able to better police it," Superintendent Colin Pinnock, the Sunshine City's top cop said.

Meanwhile, the negotiations between Councillor Dalling and Minister Charles intensified after another mutilated body, that of Cumberland resident Jermaine Green, was discovered last June, in that same area, after he had been reported missing. The police have not found another man, known as Ricky, after he too went missing in that same area. Ricky has been missing since June and is feared dead. Dalling added: "It is possible that this clean-up will unearth more bodies," he stated.