PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
RESIDENTS OF Ken Jones Heights, St. Margaret's Bay in Portland, have accused a junkyard operator of polluting their neighbourhood, saying his actions have greatly affected property value in the upscale community.
They say Winston 'General' Thomas has become uncooperative and combative, adding that the situation now requires the intervention of the local authorities.
"I have been living at Ken Jones Heights for more than four years now," said Milton Richards, resident. "Many of us have made repeated attempts to speak to Mr. Thomas, regarding the continuous dumping of junks along the path and gateway, but are being met with a series of profanity and threats."
RECENT ALTERCATION
Mr. Richards noted that the most recent altercation took place on November 22, when a trailer loaded with motor vehicle parts, blocked his pathway at about 2 a.m., while he was attempting to reach his house.
"I stepped out of my vehicle and walk towards the trailer where it was being unloaded. I approach General, but was abused verbally and also threatened. For more than 45 minutes I had to sit in my van, while they carried out their operations", he said.
Mr. Thomas declined to be interviewed when contacted by The Gleaner.
However, Mayor of Port Antonio, Alston Hunter, has confirmed that an eviction notice has already being served on Mr. Thomas and that the matter is also before the courts.
"The business that he has been operating, for sometime now, is not a legitimate one", Mr. Hunter said. "It is an illegal business and should never have been allowed to bloom at the expense of these residents."
Member of Parliament and State Minister for Education, Dr. Donald Rhodd, also toured the area last week and said he was shocked to see the extent of the illicit business. He noted that such a business should not have been allowed in a residential area.
POLICE INTERVENTION
The police have also weighed in on the matter. They note that Mr. Thomas had misled them into believing he was closing all operations for good.
"We have since learnt that operations are still alive and well at the facility," said Detective Sergeant, Kenneth Bailey, of the Criminal Investigative Branch (CIB) in Port Antonio. "Having learnt of this, we will be dispatching police personnel to the area to ensure that business is terminated and also to ensure that the spot is vacated."
Other residents say that goods were being brought in to the area only at nights, and that it had become routine to discover mountains of old motor vehicle parts, blocking the roadway into the Ken Jones Heights residential lots.
They say that for more than 12 years now, Mr. Thomas has been operating with virtual impunity, selling a variety of goods including tyres, rims, car and truck engines, bumpers and spoilers, gasolene and grease.
They note that it was fashionable for him to dump old car parts, truck engine, metallic drums and cast irons at their gateways.
