The Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has rubbished claims by some persons that previously occupied graves at the May Pen Cemetery are being dug up and reused for current funerals.

Earlier this week, THE STAR got word about the alleged practice.

THE STAR was told by sources that the remains from older graves, some approximately 50 years old, are being targeted for the practice.

According to a source whose relative was recently buried at the cemetery, "where my relative was buried, you can see that it was not a new spot. One of di work man dem who did mix di cement at my family graveside said the bones from old graves are removed for real."

The source further claimed that; "Di grave dem weh mi a talk a nuh di young graves dem enuh, they are like 50 or 60 years old. Nobody wouldn't realise that anyhow because you a talk about another generation, so nobody nah check back pan dem grave deh."

When THE STAR contacted Mayor of Kingston, Angella Brown Burke, she said she was not aware of that practice. The mayor, however, said that if there is such a practice, then the matter will be investigated.

Not acceptable

"I am not aware of that, but I will have to investigate. If that is happening, that would not be acceptable," the mayor said.

When asked if there is a space issue at the cemetery, Mayor Brown Burke replied, "Not to my knowledge".

Meanwhile, the chief medical officer at the Ministry of Health, Dr Michael Coombs, said that he too is not aware of the allegations.

"My office as chief medical officer has not received any such report, and the matter would have to be investigated. As it relates to the exhumation of bodies, there is an established process and certain procedures would have to be adhered to," the CMO said.