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THUGS TAX RIVER USERS - Extortion racket forces residents to pay to bathe or wash
Dwayne Mcleod, Staff Reporter
Corruption in Jamaica has gone to a new level. Several thugs in a community in St Ann are reportedly forcing residents to pay extortion fees to use a river that is open to the public.
Residents are being forced by the bat-wielding thugs to pay between $100 and $350 to use the Dornock River to wash their clothes, bathe or just swim.
"About a week ago, a small group of residents who normally visit the river reported to us that men were demanding fees before they were allowed to use the river," Detective Corporal Clive Ferguson of the St Ann police told THE STAR.
The detective said the police are concerned about the situation and they have commenced their investigations.
The Dornock River is not a tourist attraction but is quite useful as a water source for residents of surrounding areas.
"Some a di people weh live nearby nuh have running water, so dem come a river come wash or hol a wash-off," Marsha*, one resident of a nearby district said.
Their need for the water source has prompted the criminals to get creative in their extortion racket.
Financial strain
"Reports reaching us are that the men are charging at least $350 for washing, at least $100 for bathing, and at least $300 for swimming, depending on the duration," said Detective Corporal Ferguson.
The racket has placed tremendous financial strain on the residents and one irate resident, Kevin, told THE STAR: "Dem a deal wid wi like we a tourist and nuh tourist nuh come ya so, a only people from da side a world ya and wi a poor people ... If me feel like mi waa bathe two time fi di day, mi haffi find $200. Dem ting nuh right."
A path littered with stones and debris form the route to the river, the men involved in the racket are said to hold their position along the path to demand the fees.
"Yu cyaa go roun di man dem ting, di man dem jus stay pon di course and anybody weh pass dem affi a go a di river cause nuttin else nuh dung deh. So once dem si yu, dem ago press yu fi de money," said Mikey*.
Mikey said the men are usually armed with baseball bats and pieces of wood, used to intimidate persons to pay up.
"Mi cyaa tek nuh big lick so mi nuh too too ask nuh question; mi jus run di money," he added. The police, in the meantime, say that they have identified some men connected with the racket.
Dwayne Mcleod, Staff Reporter
Corruption in Jamaica has gone to a new level. Several thugs in a community in St Ann are reportedly forcing residents to pay extortion fees to use a river that is open to the public.
Residents are being forced by the bat-wielding thugs to pay between $100 and $350 to use the Dornock River to wash their clothes, bathe or just swim.
"About a week ago, a small group of residents who normally visit the river reported to us that men were demanding fees before they were allowed to use the river," Detective Corporal Clive Ferguson of the St Ann police told THE STAR.
The detective said the police are concerned about the situation and they have commenced their investigations.
The Dornock River is not a tourist attraction but is quite useful as a water source for residents of surrounding areas.
"Some a di people weh live nearby nuh have running water, so dem come a river come wash or hol a wash-off," Marsha*, one resident of a nearby district said.
Their need for the water source has prompted the criminals to get creative in their extortion racket.
Financial strain
"Reports reaching us are that the men are charging at least $350 for washing, at least $100 for bathing, and at least $300 for swimming, depending on the duration," said Detective Corporal Ferguson.
The racket has placed tremendous financial strain on the residents and one irate resident, Kevin, told THE STAR: "Dem a deal wid wi like we a tourist and nuh tourist nuh come ya so, a only people from da side a world ya and wi a poor people ... If me feel like mi waa bathe two time fi di day, mi haffi find $200. Dem ting nuh right."
A path littered with stones and debris form the route to the river, the men involved in the racket are said to hold their position along the path to demand the fees.
"Yu cyaa go roun di man dem ting, di man dem jus stay pon di course and anybody weh pass dem affi a go a di river cause nuttin else nuh dung deh. So once dem si yu, dem ago press yu fi de money," said Mikey*.
Mikey said the men are usually armed with baseball bats and pieces of wood, used to intimidate persons to pay up.
"Mi cyaa tek nuh big lick so mi nuh too too ask nuh question; mi jus run di money," he added. The police, in the meantime, say that they have identified some men connected with the racket.
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