‘Goat’ man blames obeah for bush-eating behaviour

The sound of a bleating goat echoed from behind a zinc fence on Passage Fort Drive in Portmore, St Catherine, close to Devin James's home. THE WEEKEND STAR was in the area to speak with James, commonly known as Ghetto Goat, but the news team was not prepared for his jaw-dropping appearance.

Sniffling like a ram, James, 21, who spoke about his love for the performing arts, fixed a rope around his neck and then took on the character of a bad, uncontrollable billy as he charged humans, walls, and even cars. James, who brands himself as a comedian, has stopped at nothing to attract the eyes of a curious public.

He allows his handler to tie a rope around his neck and feed him with tree branches.

"Dash way di mackerel and promote di mutton. A Ghetto Goat time to shine now. Mi love the comedian ting but mi never take it serious. Mi nah go be a two-month wonder, mi a guh deh bout fi a long time because mi have weh to keep people interest in me," he said.

James said that his ram goat behaviour is not to get 'likes'. He said that he has been bleating and eating bush for the past five years.

This strange behaviour, he believes, is due to an obeah spell cast on him after he broke into a shop in the community.

"I was about 14 years old when I did something really stupid. I broke into the shop of someone that lived in the community and stole some things. I went to Metcalfe (Metcalfe Street Secure Juvenile Remand Centre) and did some time. After I came back, I just start making the noise of a goat consistently," James said. The youngster told THE WEEKEND STAR that he was often teased for mimicking the goat.

Moved to tears

This newfound fame became a bit overwhelming for James, who was moved to tears during the interview.

"People used to trouble me say that I am a thief and always a tell mi about the goat story, but mi nuh make it trouble mi any more. I made a mistake as a child and do mi time and mi understand right from wrong now, and know that I was wrong. Right now mi just a focus on my comedian career and want it take mi to the sky," he said.

He views the chat as a significant opportunity to help him pursue his comedic dreams. James, however, is under no illusion. He feels that there are persons who may not be amused.

"Some of my family don't know that I have taken on this character. My father is the closest person to me so he knows, but I am not going to tell any lies. He doesn't really feel pleased about it, but in time to come he will understand," James said. He quickly added that there are limitations to his ram goat conduct.

"Again this is just a character that I have taken on, but mi no deal with nothing where animal is concerned, sexually," he said.

James, who has four Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) under his belt, also has serious health issues.

The jovial expression vanished from his face as he spoke about his battle with type 2 diabetes.

"I have had it for years and there are times when I have to take insulin to stay healthy. I smoke but I don't drink alcoholic beverages, so I eat right and take what I must take, so it don't trouble me a lot," he said.