Family of accident victims claim cover-up plot

By Omar Anderson, Staff Reporter

THE FAMILY of two people killed early Saturday morning in a traffic accident in St. Ann has charged there is a plan to cover up the accident which involved Michael Belnavis, former Jamaica Labour Party caretaker for North East St. Ann, and police personnel.

Yesterday, Deputy Supt. Ronald Anderson of the St. Ann Police said an investigation of the accident had been re-assigned to a sergeant under his direct supervision.

This action was taken after the family of the two people who died, Hugh Barnaby, 40, and his niece, Navita Barnaby, 22, complained of a lack of transparency in the investigation.

The Gleaner understands that of three other passengers in Mr. Barnaby's Lada car, two are in hospital with serious injuries.

It is understood Mr. Belnavis's Toyota Avalon car, driven by Kirk Hall, was one of three vehicles involved in the accident and Mr. Belnavis was riding in the car at the time. The police say they have been trying to contact Mr. Hall since the accident.

Three women

The police said there were three women, including two policewomen, in the back seat of Mr. Belnavis's car.

It is also reported a Toyota Camry car driven by a policeman, identified only as Robert Johnson of the Ocho Rios police station, was also involved in the accident.

Corporal Vincent Vassell of the St. Ann's Bay Traffic Police, the initial investigator, said the accident happened about 3.30 a.m. on Saturday near Chukka Cove.

The Gleaner understands Mr. Belnavis reported the accident at the Ocho Rios police station ­ more than five miles away and out of the St. Ann's Bay police area.

According to Cpl. Vassell, Mr. Belnavis had not spoken to him about the accident. "He didn't give me any information whatever," he said.

Contacted yesterday, Mr. Belnavis said he reported the accident in Ocho Rios because it was closer to where he was most of the time.

Last night, the family declined to give details but said it had hired a lawyer to watch the investigation on its behalf.

Up to late yesterday, three days after the accident, the Constabulary Communication Network said it had not issued a report on the accident.

DSP Anderson said however, that the report was sent to Police Control in Kingston but was not sent to CCN.

"Somebody from the Kingston end neglected to do their function," he said.

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