WESTERN BUREAU:
TWENTY SUBSCRIBERS to the Speedy Cash Partner Plan, Oneness Plaza, Hart Street, Montego Bay, were shot and injured at the office yesterday morning, when a security guard's gun went off accidentally.
In the wake of the shooting, detectives from the Montego Bay CIB have seized the security guard's shotgun for ballistic testing. He is employed to Unique Security Company, St. James Street in Montego Bay.
Among those injured were Winston Campbell, 33; Leo Bowen, 40; Julia Barrett, 42; Cynthia Binns, 23; Basil Tomlinson, 54; Angella Green, 38; Antoinette Dryden, 33; Patricia Sang, 34; Yurgia Hutchinson, 19; Frederick Willie, 43; Ann Roach, 32; Joyce Hart, 45; Andrea Smith, 22; Helen Young, 52; Andrea Smart, 28; Edward Lewis, 37; Michael Christie 43; Patrick Gordon, 27; Novelette Brown, 28; Bridgette Stewart, 27, all of Montego Bay addresses.
The St. James Police reported that at about 12:30 yesterday afternoon, a large crowd converged on the offices of Speedy Cash Partner Plan to collect their dividends. They became boisterous and started pushing forward in a bid to enter the office. During the fracas, they reportedly pushed a security guard to the ground and his 12-gauge shot-gun accidentally went off. The bullet hit a concrete ceiling and ricocheted. The pellets scattered across the room, hitting 20 persons who were close by.
The injured were taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where they were treated and released. The shooting, however, did not deter the large crowd from regrouping to get their money.
Three partner schemes have been operating in Montego Bay since last September -- the Revolving Partner Plan, Speedy Cash and the Infinity Partner Plan, which started just under a month ago.
The Quick Cash Partner Plan operates out of Lucea, while another branch of the Speedy Cash operates out of Falmouth. A similar plan has been started in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmore-land.
The three Montego Bay-based plans have since run into payment problems and earlier this week, the Fair Trading Com-mission (FTC) said it would be taking action against the Infinity Partner Plan, if its directors fail to pay out dividends to its members within 30 days, as advertised.
"Pay $6,000 down per hand. Receive $50,000 within 30 days initially," Infinity's ad promised.
But director of the plan, Mr. Lauren Lewis said that the use of the word 'initially' made it clear that he was not guaranteeing payment within 30 days. "The advertisement says 'initially'. That means that things can change as time goes by, depending on the number of persons who come into the plan. No guarantees have been made," Mr. Lewis said.
