Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The country was forced into a shroud of embarrassment yesterday when ICC Cricket World Cup personnel and tourists were locked in a traffic jam for hours during a protest at Flankers in Montego Bay, St. James.

Long lines of traffic stretched from the Rose Hall main road to the vicinity of the Sangster International Airport, which form part of Segment 2A of the North Coast Highway.

Misunderstanding

The traffic pile-up was triggered by a protest, which originated from a misunderstanding by members of the police who had received reports that some residents of the Red Dirt/Hog City community in Flankers were extorting money from persons using a bypass road in the area.

The report turned out to be false, but not before a police party swooped down on the community and, according to residents, reigned blows on two young men and roughed up Leila Henry; the woman in whose yard money was being shared.

"I was given $40,000 by Chisholm Construction Company (a sub-contractor of Pihl Construction Company) to fix a stretch of road in the community, which is to be used as bypass," related Ms. Henry.

"A group of youngsters from the community was given work and after I paid some of them, I went to see one of the contractors. On my return mi see a whole heap a police in mi yard."

Denied access

She inquired of the police what was taking place in her yard, but she was denied access.

"Mi tell the police say a my yard and one of them threatened to box and kill me, used expletives and dared me to enter. Him grab me and burst off mi chain. Dem teargas wi and started firing shots," she said.

Superintendent Steve McGregor, who commenced duties in St. James on Monday, said the situation was unfortunate and that he regretted what had happened.

"Some things happened, which the people are not in agreement with, but I am here to deal with the situation and see how best we can move on. We are listening to each other and we will be having a meeting soon to establish a code of conduct between the police and citizens," Supt. McGregor told The Gleaner.

Clifford Hutchinson, a representative of Chisholm Construction, confirmed that he did give Miss Henry $40,000 to pay workmen for road work.